Conservation Pays All Parties: Albuquerque Residents Consumed 6 Gallons of Water Less Per Day in 2008; 8500 High Flow Toilet Upgrades Paid $1M in Rebates! (NewMexicoBusinessJournal)

Jan.14, 2009 in Prop Management, Public Works, Water Bills, Water Conservation, Water Industry, Water Management

(Jan. 13, 2009, New Mexico Business Journal)

Albuquerque residents are conserving water even more than ever it seems.

Customers of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority used six gallons fewer per person per day in 2008 than in 2007. That brings the metropolitan area’s water usage per person down to 161 gallons, which is the lowest on record. It’s also four gallons below the Authority’s 2008 goal of 165 gallons.

Deanna Archuleta, chair of the Water Authority, called it a “tremendous achievement.” Water Authority customers have cut their per capita consumption by 91 gallons per day sincue 1994.

The Water Authority is required to reduce per-capita water consumption under state requirements for the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project. It has set a usage goal of 150 gallons per person per day by 2014. The goal for 2009 is 159 gallons per person.

Customers replaced more than 8,500 high flow toilets in 2008 and earned about $1 million in rebates. That most likely saved about 30 million gallons, says the Water Authority. Rebates of $100 for low-flow toilets will be available through the end of 2009. There are also $200 rebates available for super high-efficiency toilets and for hot-water recirculation systems, multi-setting sprinkler controllers, rain sensors, rain barrels, compost and replacement of turf with low-water landscaping.

More information is available at the Water Authority’s Web site .