In Tucson, Stormwater Rebates Favor High-Income Families

Water managers in Tucson, AZ, are facing criticism over a program that encourages customers to install rainwater-harvesting systems.

Oscar Carrillo is among the residents who benefitted from the program, which provides rebates to Tucson Water customers who set up rainwater-harvesting projects at their homes.

Carrillo received a $700 loan from a nonprofit group and a $500 rebate from the city for a stormwater system built out of 50 tons of rocks. The system channels rainwater to his fruit trees, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

“The rocks create ‘earthworks’ — a low-tech form of rainwater harvesting that grades a yard to direct runoff,” the report said.

The problem is this: Critics say low-income households may not be sharing in the benefits of this program, which the city launched four years ago, according to the report.

Paul Cunningham, a member of the Tucson City Council, critiqued the program in a Tucson Sentinel editorial: “Here's a number that tells you the disparity: 400 residents of the Catalina Foothills, who don't even live in the city, have taken advantage of the rebates. In Ward 5, which encompasses many of our city's more stressed neighborhoods, only 43 residents have used the rebates.”

“It's frustrating because people with smaller paychecks are exactly who would benefit the most from reduced water bills. We'd also be increasing our tree canopy. More shade means reduced electrical bills,” he continued.

Ward 5 ranks last in Tucson for median household income, according to the Daily Star.

“[Low-income families] can’t afford the cost of rainwater harvesting, even with rebates, some council members say. A cistern rebate tops out at $2,000 and earthworks fetches $500 — but the projects often cost much more,” the report said.

Policy measures aimed at bringing low-income families into the program have stalled.

“More than 18 months ago, the council voted unanimously to get more low-income residents into the rebate program, including spending $300,000 for a low-income loan program. But the program still hasn’t started, although its money is in the 2016-17 budget,” the report said.

Tucson Water spokesman Fernando Molina weighed in.

“While it may appear that nothing has been done with respect to developing these programs, you can see that we have been busy with [Sonoran Environmental Research Institute] as they [investigate] the best way to move forward with these programs,” Molina said.

Cunningham, the city council member, expressed confidence that Tucson Water will address the issue. He said the new director of Tucson Water, Timothy Thomure, “understands our concerns and has been working with us to find a solution. Tim deserves a lot of kudos for his approach to water and conservation issues,” Cunningham wrote.

Cunningham added that the city council directed Tucson Water “to work with existing partners in the community to develop a program to help low-income residents with rainwater harvesting. The money for this already exists as part of the conservation fund that all of us as Tucson Water customers contribute to. Any money spent on this is an investment in a greener and more water secure community.”

For similar stories visit Water Online’s Stormwater Management Solutions Center.