Albuquerque urges water conservation despite recent rain
Rio Grande flows remain too low to restart the city’s surface-water plant as officials urge residents to continue conserving
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Recent storms have brought Albuquerque’s rainfall closer to normal for the year, but water officials say continued conservation is needed because flows in the Rio Grande remain too low to restart the city’s surface-water treatment plant.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has relied entirely on groundwater since early summer, when the Rio Grande dried through Albuquerque. The agency’s groundwater system can meet the city’s full demand.
Although water is flowing in the river again, officials need sustained flows of about 200 to 250 cubic feet per second at the Central Avenue bridge gauge before considering restarting the San Juan-Chama Water Treatment Plant. The facility takes time to start and cannot be turned on and off quickly.
The rainfall has allowed the utility to restart its north-side nonpotable water system. Parks, including Balloon Fiesta Park, are again using nonpotable water for irrigation instead of groundwater.
As temperatures cool, officials are asking residents to turn back automated sprinkler systems and water no more than twice a week during September and October. Customers should also pause outdoor irrigation when it rains or after a storm.
Mark Kelly, the utility’s water resources division manager, praised customers for keeping water use relatively steady despite the hot, dry summer.
“Our conservation efforts are at about 126 gallons per person per day,” Kelly said. “Right now, we have a goal to get down to 110 by 2037.”
Kelly said the utility also offers customers rebates of $3 per square foot to remove high-water-use turf. He encouraged residents to consider turf-removal projects during the cooler months in preparation for future hot and dry conditions.
