Dishrags Found Hazardous to Health

Nothing is spared in the researcher's relentless pursuit of the sources of contamination and disease. In his quest for such threatening sources, University of Arizona water quality expert Chuck Gerba discovered that the lowly sponge or dishrag is a breedi ng ground for potentially dangerous bacteria.

Gerba studied a hundred sponges and dishrags collected in the New York City area. He found 39 percent of the rags and sponges contained either Staphylococcus or Salmonella — two leading causes of food-borne diseases in the United States. He also di scovered that lurking within 68 percent of the rags and sponges were bacteria with the potential to cause illness in humans, including fecal coliform bacteria, broad indicators of filth and bacterial contamination.

In the absence of federal and state rules regulating the use of sponges and dishrags, Gerba offers suggestions to minimize risks of sickness. He suggests using germ-resistant sponges; running sponges or dishrags through the dishwasher or washing mac hine daily; and regularly spraying counter tops, cutting boards and other surfaces with a disinfectant approved for kitchen use, then wiping surfaces with paper towels.

Monsoon Puts in Yet Another Late Appearance

This summer's monsoon got off to a late start in Phoenix and Tucson, but then made up for it with heavier than normal precipitation in August. Phoenix recorded only trace precipitation in June and July, while Tucso n International Airport recorded a scant 0.04 inches, making it the driest June and July on record for both metropolitan areas. Normally, Phoenix gets over an inch of rain in June and July, while Tucsonans expect two and a half inches, according to Pat H olbrook of the National Weather service.

Torrential August storms dumped 3.5 inches on Phoenix and 3.71 inches on Tucson, which normally receive 1.0 and 2.2 inches, respectively. The 3.5 inches in Phoenix exceeds that for any August in the last 30 years.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that Tucson has had below-normal precipitation in June and July followed by above-normal rainfall in August (see bar chart, above). A similar but weaker trend is observed in Phoenix, where monsoon storms are mor e fickle.

Five years of data do not constitute proof of climate change, but speculation on the causes of the tardy monsoon already has begun. Holbrook believes any number of factors could have contributed to this trend including, El Niño, global warming, or t he eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines.

The soggy August assures Phoenix of above-average precipitation for the monsoon. In Tucson, however, total monsoon precipitation is likely to fall far below normal despite the August rains. As of mid-September, approximately four inches of rain hav e fallen since the beginning of the 1995 monsoon season. More than two additional inches of rainfall are needed by the end of September to reach the average season total of 6.23 inches.

Gila River Indian Area HSR to Begin

A recent court ruling paves the way for litigating the water rights of the Gila River Indian Community, which claims some of the oldest water rights in the Gila River adjudication. Judge Susan Bolton ruled that the Arizona Department of Water Resources c an begin work on the "hydrographic survey report" for the Gila River Indian Reservation. An HSR is the first step toward active litigation.

In effect, the ruling means litigation of the Gila River Indian Community's water rights will occur years earlier than previously scheduled. However, even a preliminary HSR for the Gila River Indian Reservation is not expected before summer 1996. J udges in the Gila River and Little Colorado River adjudications now are taking steps to expedite litigation of tribal and federal claims, to reduce the complexity of the adjudication.

Judge Bolton also amended an earlier Judge Goodfarb ruling that specified what information ADWR is to include in its "practicably irrigable acreage" analysis of Indian lands. Judge Bolton indicated "it is not the court's intention that ADWR address all the factors necessary for a final determination of PIA."

"Instead ADWR analysis should concentrate on the physical factors involved in PIA, such as water supply and land arability, showing the general likelihood and locations for additional successful agricultural development on the reservation."

Environmental Role of State vs. Feds Debated

A prominent national debate was taken up at a state conference as two participants discussed whether the state or federal government should regulate the environment. Dave Baron, assistant director of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, and House Speaker Mark Killian, a Mesa Republican, argued different positions at the Arizona Hydrological Society's 8th Annual Symposium held in Tucson.

Baron claimed that states, including Arizona, failed to regulate effectively environmental contamination, leading to the widespread pollution of the nation's waterways, air and land during the 1970's. As a result, Congress was forced to act with mea sures such as the Clean Water Act of 1972 which pushed industry and local governments to clean up the pollution.

"We have a generation of federal regulation because the public wants the environment protected and (the public) is not getting that level of protection from the states," said Baron.

Baron further argued that states are not able to address successfully such current problems as groundwater quality protection, land use and zoning, and nonpoint source pollution. Baron said federal environmental laws more effectively deal with such issues because: air and water pollution is not confined by state borders; different levels of environmental regulation among states would create "pollution havens," attracting industry to states with weaker laws; and states do not have the resources and e xpertise available to the federal government.

Killian disagreed, saying that the Arizona Legislature is commited to both a clean environment and protection of private property rights.

Killian stated that "We should tuck the Constitution in there to preserve people's rights when environmental regulations are developed." He provided examples of abuses of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act to illustrat e how private property owners get "caught between the agencies and the law and sometimes lose their property."

Killian described some Arizona environmental success stories: legislation on clean burning fuels, creation of the Department of Environmental Quality, and tax credit for converting vehicles to clean burning fuels. #2 artwork here

Phoenix AMA Seeks Augmentation, Conservation Proposals

The Phoenix Active Management Area, Arizona Department of Water Resources is accepting applications for the 1996 Augmentation and Conservation Assistance Program. Approximately $2 million is available to fund project aimed at supplementing the water supp ly of the AMA or assisting users within the Phoenix AMA to reduce water consumption. Application deadline is November 15, with selection of grants to be completed by April 1996. Contact Alan Fehrman or Marjie Risk, Augmentation and Conservation Grants, ADWR, 500 North Third St., Phoenix, AZ 85004; 602-417-2465.

Forest Roundtable Scheduled

Planning for the 1996 Seventh American Forest Congress is underway and includes an Arizona Forest Congress Round-

table to be held in Sedona, Arizona, Friday, November 17. The purpose of the Roundtable is to bring together diverse interests to establish a vision, as well as work out guiding principles and recommended next steps for future forest management. For mor e information contact Mary Lee Dunning, Roundtable Event Chair; 520-204-1118; fax 520-204-2594; email richardd@sedona.net.

Irrigation Conservation Seminar Upcoming

The U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) and the U.S Bureau of Reclamation are sponsoring a water management seminar, "Irrigation Water Conservation — Opportunities and Limitations," October 5-7 in Sacramento, California. The seminar will ad dress the issue of irrigation water conservation in a multidisciplinary forum. Lectures will focus on conservation practices — concepts and misconceptions, the benefits and detriments of conservation, and institutional improvements for water conservation . For more information contact USCID, 1616 17th St., Suite 483, Denver, CO 80202; 303-628-5430; fax 303-628-5431; email ldsuscidld@aol.com.

Phoenix AMA Offers Internships

Internships are available with the Phoenix Active Management Area. Candidate should have undergraduate and/or graduate work in planning, landscape architecture, agriculture, environmental science, hydrology, geology, natural resources, geography, public policy or related field. Computer experience is desired; GIS background would be an asset. Internships pay $7 per hour. Submit resume and cover letter to Jim Holway, Arizona Department of Water Resources, 500 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 or call Jean Porter, 602-417-2450.