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Albuquerque's
Aggresive Water Programs Make A Difference
by Steve Miller
Albuquerque,
a city in the arid Southwestern United States, has grown by 120,000
residents in the last 20 years but consumed less water last
year than in any previous year since 1985.
The
city launched its conservation program in 1995 after federal studies
showed that the city's underground water supply was being depleted.
The city-county water utility serves about 482,000 people.
In
2004, estimated per-person water use was down to 177 gallons daily,
according to figures that were released. That's just short of
Albuquerque's
10-year goal, which was to have reached 175 gallons per-person.
"We
can do even better, but Albuquerqueans deserve a big, big pat
on the back," Mayor Martin Chavez said.
Albuquerque
has implemented some of the broadest array of water conservation
programs of any city in the US, including:
·
Mandatory summer watering restrictions
· Rebates for harvesting rainwater
· Rebates for installing low-flow toilets
· Rebates for relandscaping yards to xeriscape
· Rebates for changing out high use washing machines for
low water use units
Almost
60,000 rebates have awarded since the programs inception according
to the city.
Overall,
in 2004, the utility pumped about 32.6 billion gallons of water,
the
lowest amount since 1985. Water use peaked in 1995 when conservation
was just getting started at 40.3 billion gallons.
In
1994, Mayor Martin J. Chavez and the Albuquerque City Council
called for a 30% reduction in water use in ten years. The response
by City water customers has been extraordinary, with per person
usage dropping from 250 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) when
the program began in 1995, to 193 by the end of 2003. When UAW
(unaccounted for water) is deducted, usage actually drops to 175
gpcd.
In
2005, the city is introducing additional programs to help the
city meet it's 2014 goal. These include 6 free xeriscaping design
templates and free water conservation seminars.
The
local water utility expects by 2007 to start diverting river water
to help supply its customers. But the diversion will be limited
to half of what the city wants unless water use is cut to 175
gallons daily. That condition was set by the state engineer.
The
future of Albuquerque depends greatly upon the availablilty of
water for the generations to come. Water conservation is one of
the surest, cheapest ways that Albuquerqueans can insure that
future.The city has announced a new water conservation goal - to reduce water usage by 40% by 2014!
Given
the area is in the midst of a drought and with a population growing
this type of goal is not just good politics, it is required.
For
more information on the city of Albuquerque's programs, go to: http://www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/
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