Pollution

Pollution is a major concern to the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Watershed. Increased population and development has put a great deal of stress on the river and in some instances the river cannot adequately cleanse itself due to the lack of sufficient amounts of water or the quantity and concentration of harmful substances entering into the river.

For years farmers have applied chemicals that include pesticides and fertilizers to their crops to reduce stress and increase crop yields . Flood irrigation has been a common practice for many years as a method of watering crops. Water is taken from the river via irrigation canals and ditches to flood the fields with an average of three feet per acre of land. The field appears as a lake or pond until the ground soaks up the water to ensure adequate water utilization by the plants until the next irrigation time that may be two weeks later depending on the water requirement for the crop selected. Along with water infiltrating the ground, so do the chemicals applied to the crops. The water and chemicals are not fully used by the plant then will return to both the groundwater and surface water sources. If people are not careful about the amount of chemicals used in farming, residential, commercial or industrial landscapes, then the accumulation of these chemicals will drain to the river and can destroy the food and water source for wildlife and humans in the basin.

Point-Source

Wastewater that is discharged into the river from industry, and sewage treatment plants. Although there are environmental laws prohibiting point source pollution and regulation to the treatment of effluent water returned to the river, sometimes the concentration of the wastewater may not be treated to the specification due to equipment not working properly or negligence by a private industry. Laws are implemented for a purpose, to protect the environment and the health of the basin community.

Non-Point Source

Pollutants reaching the river indirectly, usually by other means such as storm drains where the source is difficult to find. Illegal dumping of hazardous chemicals, such as oil, petroleum, solvents, solid waste for example: tires, metals, plastics, and batteries are non-point sources of pollution. They are not disposed of properly and mange to drain into the river.

Pesticide Campaign

El Paso Water Utilities has an educational pesticide campaign to target customers to not put pesticides or other hazardous chemicals down the drain.