Water-saving successes in El Paso and Santa Fe

By Mike Weinberg, Chapter Water Chair

We all by now have heard that worldwide shortages of fresh water are expected in the coming decades due to increased demand from an ever-growing global population and anticipated drying of the earth’s climate.

Development of new water supplies and better management of existing sources will be necessary in order to meet the challenges that lie ahead. We can all help by conserving this precious resource.

This article recognizes two cities in our region that are commended for slashing residential water use; El Paso in the south and Santa Fe to the north. Here are some numbers to consider: El Paso Water Utilities reports that per capita water use in its service area declined from 200 to 133 gallons per day (gpd) in the past 20 years, while Sangre de Cristo Water users in Santa Fe reduced their consumption from 168 gpd in 1995 to 98 gpd in 2009. The conservation measures that proved successful in those cities can be extended to our own communities and our homes, where we control the faucets. Their formula for success can be broadly divided into three areas: education, incentives, and institutional controls.

Education
Both featured cities have water-conservation departments that promote wise management practices through community outreach. The process starts with school presentations that teach young people the value of water and the need to conserve it. El Paso implemented the clever idea of placing water-management displays at the city zoo. Grass and landscape irrigation typically accounts for about a third of all residential water use, making it a fertile area for conservation. Kitchen gardens provide us with wholesome food but increase water demand. Educational programs, demonstration gardens and landscape audits conducted by the cities stress the value of Xeriscape to reduce irrigation requirements. Water harvesting by roof catchment is another tool presented to residents. Efficient application techniques, such as drip irrigation systems that minimize evaporative loss, are promoted. El Paso distributes brochures that promote low-water-use home appliances and assist residents with leak detection.

Incentives
Financial incentives provide motivation for environmental change. The featured cities help residents offset the cost of replacing water-thirsty appliances like washing machines, toilets, and swamp coolers with more efficient units through financial rebates. El Paso offered residents $1 per foot to replace conventional grass with Xeriscapic strains or to eliminate grass cover entirely. The city also distributed low-water showerheads at no cost from school grounds. Santa Fe promotes water harvesting by offering rebates to customers for new roof catchment installations based on the size of the storage tank. Rebates are also offered for moisture-control sensors in order to eliminate excess irrigation.

Institutional Controls
Institutional controls include water-conserving ordinances, compliance and enforcement actions to address violations, and pricing structures that discourage waste. I tend to view these controls as the “big stick,” whereby an epiphany of heightened water awareness is attained as one reaches for the checkbook. Ordinances vary by city, but generally restrict lawn irrigation to morning and evening hours, when it is more efficient.

Ordinances also limit irrigation frequency, prohibit off-site runoff, and prevent free flow when cars are washed. Warnings and citations are issued for violations. Both cities have tiered water-pricing structures. Santa Fe customers pay $5.18 per 1,000 gallons of water used until a monthly threshold is reached, after which the price climbs to $18.55 per 1,000 gallons.
We as a nation are getting better at conserving water. But there is still much room for improvement. I pledge to reduce my shower time by one-third (ouch). What more will you do to help?