Latest news with #ArizonaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Do wildfires cause bad air quality? How bad is it for you? Here's what Arizonans must know
Wildfires in Arizona can send smoke drifting across the state and cause uncomfortable health issues for residents. JoAnna Strother, Phoenix-based regional senior director of advocacy at the American Lung Association, said smoke can travel in the air hundreds of thousands of miles. "Even if the wildfire might be in Nevada, California, it can still impact us here in Arizona," Strother said. The way smoke travels depends on wind patterns and whether there's rain or cloud cover. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality meteorologist Matthew Pace said smoke in the day and smoke at night move differently. In the Arizona daytime, Pace explained, light-to moderate smoke moves northeast. The biggest concern looms at night, as fire smoke drops to the ground because temperatures are cooler, Pace said. "Smoke is particulate matter that's 2.5 microns and smaller, so essentially 20 times smaller than the human hair," Pace said. "Those, obviously, when you're breathing them, they can go further down into your lungs." The Arizona Department of Health Services states small particles in the wildfire smoke cause: Burning eyes. Runny nose. Scratchy throat. Headaches. Illness such as bronchitis. The Health Department also warns wildfire smoke worsens these preexisting conditions: Heart disease. Lung disease. Asthma. Emphysema. COPD. Children and the elderly are also at risk. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality lists three levels of precaution: Level 1: Stay smoke-aware (no smoke, to haze, to light smoke, to smoke in the vicinity). Level 2: Minimize outdoor activities (smoke in the vicinity, from patchy smoke to widespread moderate smoke). Level 3: Stay inside (heavy to dense smoke). The department's website includes forecasts on wildfire smoke when air quality could be impacted, and it also offers hourly updated air quality reports for different Arizona cities. Phoenix. Tucson. Yuma. Flagstaff. Prescott. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How bad is breathing in wildfire smoke? What to know in Arizona
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
After months of dry weather, could strong winds spread valley fever fungus in Phoenix?
Windy conditions will return to Phoenix on Thursday in the wake of weekend dust storms that filled the air with gritty haze. After months with minimal rain, all it takes is a few strong gusts to disturb desert dust, but with dust clouds hanging over the Phoenix area this week, could there be a spike in valley fever cases? While in theory, windy conditions amid a dry spell could trigger an uptick in cases, it's not definitive. 'We have been learning lately that dust storms don't seem to increase the amount of valley fever fungus in the air or human cases,' said Dave Engelthaler, the executive director of the Health Observatory at Arizona State University. 'It's only if the storm blows through areas where fungus is on the surface.' Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection common in the Southwest. Fungal spores in the soil can be drawn into the air after disturbances, like construction, farming and windstorms. If people inhale spores, they can be infected with valley fever. Valley fever can cause asymptomatic infections, but those with symptoms can experience fever, cough, fatigue, headache and shortness of breath. The fungus can also infect animals. A low-pressure system reaching Phoenix will bring breezy conditions on Thursday, with 15 to 20-mile-per-hour winds and gusts up to 30 mph. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a moderate dust pollution advisory on Thursday, potentially through Friday, depending on whether rain showers reach the Valley Friday afternoon. Rain could clear the air of dust and moisten the soil, keeping dust compact on the ground. But in areas where the ground has recently been disturbed, winds could cause dusty conditions through Thursday. Engelthaler leads research testing air filters around the Valley to track when and where spores enter the air. Coccidioides lives in the soil and grows like a mold. If the soil has been disturbed, it is easier for spores to reach the air. With warm and dry conditions, the soil dries out quickly. If winds hit an area with dry, disturbed soils, it's even easier for the fungus to spread. Fungal spores: Half of valley fever infections come from Maricopa County: Here's what you need to know After months of drought and above-average temperatures — Phoenix had a 159-day dry streak earlier this year and February ended as the hottest February on record — it is possible valley fever cases could increase. But the fungus isn't everywhere, and it may have a harder time growing during dry and warm conditions. It can be 'pretty patchy' across the desert, according to Engelthaler. Research shows there's variability throughout the year and across geographical locations, depending more on local activities, weather and whether the fungus is even present. 'It has to be the right conditions in the right place to get it up into the air,' Engelthaler said. 'But having warmer, drier periods will likely increase the number of exposures occurring in the areas where the fungus is.' This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: After Phoenix dry streak, winds stir dust, but not valley fever
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
After months of dry weather, could strong winds spread valley fever fungus in Phoenix?
Windy conditions will return to Phoenix on Thursday in the wake of weekend dust storms that filled the air with gritty haze. After months with minimal rain, all it takes is a few strong gusts to disturb desert dust, but with dust clouds hanging over the Phoenix area this week, could there be a spike in valley fever cases? While in theory, windy conditions amid a dry spell could trigger an uptick in cases, it's not definitive. 'We have been learning lately that dust storms don't seem to increase the amount of valley fever fungus in the air or human cases,' said Dave Engelthaler, the executive director of the Health Observatory at Arizona State University. 'It's only if the storm blows through areas where fungus is on the surface.' Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection common in the Southwest. Fungal spores in the soil can be drawn into the air after disturbances, like construction, farming and windstorms. If people inhale spores, they can be infected with valley fever. Valley fever can cause asymptomatic infections, but those with symptoms can experience fever, cough, fatigue, headache and shortness of breath. The fungus can also infect animals. A low-pressure system reaching Phoenix will bring breezy conditions on Thursday, with 15 to 20-mile-per-hour winds and gusts up to 30 mph. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a moderate dust pollution advisory on Thursday, potentially through Friday, depending on whether rain showers reach the Valley Friday afternoon. Rain could clear the air of dust and moisten the soil, keeping dust compact on the ground. But in areas where the ground has recently been disturbed, winds could cause dusty conditions through Thursday. Engelthaler leads research testing air filters around the Valley to track when and where spores enter the air. Coccidioides lives in the soil and grows like a mold. If the soil has been disturbed, it is easier for spores to reach the air. With warm and dry conditions, the soil dries out quickly. If winds hit an area with dry, disturbed soils, it's even easier for the fungus to spread. Fungal spores: Half of valley fever infections come from Maricopa County: Here's what you need to know After months of drought and above-average temperatures — Phoenix had a 159-day dry streak earlier this year and February ended as the hottest February on record — it is possible valley fever cases could increase. But the fungus isn't everywhere, and it may have a harder time growing during dry and warm conditions. It can be 'pretty patchy' across the desert, according to Engelthaler. Research shows there's variability throughout the year and across geographical locations, depending more on local activities, weather and whether the fungus is even present. 'It has to be the right conditions in the right place to get it up into the air,' Engelthaler said. 'But having warmer, drier periods will likely increase the number of exposures occurring in the areas where the fungus is.' This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: After Phoenix dry streak, winds stir dust, but not valley fever
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Arizona's drinking water is about to change for the better
Climate patterns across the Southwest are trending toward longer and hotter seasons with less snowpack to the north. The result is less runoff to support the Colorado River, which supplies about 36% of Arizona's water. Arizona has the second largest allocation of Colorado River water, but it receives the lowest priority for this allocation. That means we stand to lose the most if allocations are further reduced. Groundwater can temporarily offset shortages, but it must be managed carefully for long-term reliance. Many rural areas of the state are seeing steep declines in aquifer water levels. However, thanks to conservation measures and active management of groundwater resources, Arizona's water use has declined since the 1950s despite our population's growth. We've also acted to reduce the impacts of drought, but we need every available tool to ensure our long-term water security. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality could earn approval this week for rules to implement Advanced Water Purification (AWP), marking a new era for water reliability in our arid state. AWP presents an opportunity to create a new, safe and reliable source of drinking water to help meet the needs of Arizona residents and businesses. The new rules create a voluntary program for water agencies of all sizes to increase local water supplies and rely less on imported water from the Colorado River and local groundwater. In fact, several Arizona cities are well underway with plans for AWP. Scottsdale has been operating an AWP demonstration facility since 1998 and obtained the first permit in the state for small-scale demonstration of AWP for consumption as drinking water. The city of Phoenix is constructing one of several planned projects with the rehabilitation of its Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant, which will feature a full-scale AWP facility. And Tucson is in the planning phases for their program. The proven technology takes recycled water, which is already clean enough to use in the environment for irrigation, and sends it through a high-pressure, multi-barrier filtration system that purifies water to a level that meets and exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. This purified water is so clean that it can be added to a community's water supply after rigorous monitoring and testing. Arizona is not alone in this its pursuit of AWP. Communities across the country have implemented similar rules, including Texas, Colorado, California and Florida. Opinion: How we know recycled water is safe to drink El Paso Water recently broke ground on its Pure Water Center that will eventually produce 10 million gallons per day of purified water. The city of Aurora, Colo., has been operating its purified water system for more than a decade, and Castle Rock, Colo., operates a facility that it hopes will provide all of their water by 2065. Los Angeles is constructing a water recycling facility in the San Fernando Valley that will produce drinking water for about 250,000 people. And Florida's Clay County is operating a demonstration facility to showcase the technology. Reusing wastewater in Arizona for beneficial uses is not new. Arizona has been practicing water reuse since 1926 when the first wastewater treatment plant, built specifically for reuse, was constructed at Grand Canyon Village. Now, we use recycled water to cool the nation's largest nuclear power plant, replenish our aquifers, keep dozens of golf courses green, create public open spaces and wildlife habitat with wetlands, and supply one of the world's largest fountains. Decades of research, water quality monitoring, practical application of water treatment technologies and specialized training and certification for water facility operators have paved the way for AWP to provide our state with a high-quality and renewable source of water. Arizona's new rules for its use protect public health and the environment, and it creates new opportunities for water supply resilience. We are eager to see them move forward. Erin Young is president of WaterReuse Arizona, a water recycling trade association. Rob McCandless is a past president of the association. Reach them at eyoung@ and This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's water supply is about to get a lot more reliable | Opinion
