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Explorer and Marana News, February ,
TOWN TALK
What is stormwater and how is it managed in Oro Valley? John Spiker
Oro Valley Stormwater Utility Division Manager
W
hen you think of Oro Valley Stormwater Utility, you probably conjure images of monsoon storms and running washes. But in addition to handling flood mitigation and management, Stormwater staff works hard year-round, handling everything from pollution prevention to construction site runoff.
Rain and monsoon storms generate stormwater runoff. Stormwater has the potential to cause flooding, damage drainage systems and infrastructure, impact washes and animal habitats and of course, cause water quality issues. Stormwater picks up dirt and debris from non-porous surfaces like roads, parking lots, yards and rooftops, which can end up in local washes, ultimately flowing into the Santa Cruz River. That’s
where Stormwater drainage systems come in. In heavy rainstorms or a wet monsoon season like the Town experienced in 2021, stormwater drainage systems will drain excess stormwater from non-porous surfaces to reduce potential flooding and property damage. The Oro Valley Stormwater Utility was created in 2001 when the first Town Stormwater Ordinance was adopted. Commonly referred to as SWU, the Utility is tasked
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with meeting federal and state mandates for various stormwater quality and quantity standards. In addition, SWU manages stormwater within Oro Valley through Town specific stormwater and floodplain management programs. Since neither the federal nor state government provide funding to help keep the Town in compliance with the mandates, the Town of Oro Valley created the Oro Valley Stormwater
Utility and implemented a fee to meet the regulations. The quarterly assessed fee of $4.50 per month (per equivalent residential unit) is charged to each home and commercial property within Oro Valley. The fee is typically added to the existing Oro Valley Water bill, but in cases where residents do not have Oro Valley water service, a separate billing account is created at the Utility. The quarterly fee goes a long way, with funding
used to cover personnel, equipment and capital improvements to ensure Oro Valley is a safe community that is in compliance with all government mandates. Examples include drainage maintenance, repair and replacement of stormwater infrastructure, additional street sweeping, drainage system inspections, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control and water pollution prevention.