Stormwater swells in the Southwest

Intense rainstorms hammered the southwest last week, flooding neighborhoods and knocking out power. Most of the neighborhoods that were most vulnerable were trailer parks which lack sophisticated, centralized stormwater drainage systems. In some areas, standing water reached 12 inches, displacing people from their homes and causing structural damage.

John Locher / Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP

Simultaneously, storms near Las Vegas flooded neighborhoods, and roads flooded in the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

Source: NBC News





Storms like this test the infrastructure in place in cities in the Southwest that normally get two to three inches of rain per year. Many western cities do not have upgraded stormwater systems, and send stormwater into ditches and canals that trasport irrigation water. With the increase of urbanization in the West, more impermeable surfaces like driveways, roofs, and parking lots, send even more water during storm events.

Climate scientists predict that more severe weather events are likely to occur as a result of climate change. This puts even more pressure on municipal infrastructure already burdened by growing urban populations. Finding funding for upgrading and maintaining water infrastructure is a serious challenge.