WATER AUTHORITY CUSTOMERS MEET ANNUAL CONSERVATION GOAL WITH BEST-EVER USAGE NUMBERS

from the Water Utility Authority

Albuquerque, Jan. 13 – Water Authority customers used six gallons less per person per day in 2008 than in 2007, bringing the metro area’s daily per-person water usage down to 161 gallons – the lowest per-person usage on record and four gallons below the 165-gallon annual goal for 2008.
"This is a tremendous achievement by our customers," said Water Authority Chair Deanna Archuleta. "We have cut our per capita consumption by an amazing 91 gallons per day since 1994, keeping us on track to meet our long-term conservation goals."
The Water Authority, which must reduce per-capita water consumption under state requirements for the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project, has set a usage goal of 150 gallons per person per day by 2014. The goal for 2009 is 159 gallons per person.
Archuleta said much credit for the success in 2008 goes to the 1-2-3-2-1 "Water by the Numbers" program, which asked Water Authority customers to voluntarily limit their outdoor water usage to one day per week in March, two days a week in April and May and three days a week in the summer before ramping down in the fall.
"For 2009, we are asking all our customers to save just two additional gallons per day," Archuleta said. "We can do it if everyone sticks with the 1-2-3-2-1 formula for outdoor irrigation while looking for a few additional ways to save water. We’ll be providing a top-10 list of ways to do this, and at the top of that list will be toilet replacement."
Water Authority customers replaced more than 8,500 water-guzzling high-flow toilets with low-flow models in 2008 (year two of "The Great Flush Rush" campaign) and earned almost $1 million in rebates. The estimated yearly water savings: 30 million gallons. Rebates of $100 per toilet will be available for low-flow toilets through the end of 2009, at which time the toilet rebate program will end. Water Authority customers can qualify for rebates of $200 for super high-efficiency toilets, and rebates also are available for hot-water recirculation systems, multi-setting sprinkler controllers, rain sensors, rain barrels, compost, and replacement of turf with low-water use landscaping (xeriscaping). More information is available at http://www.abcwua.org//ohttp://www.abcwua.org/