ALBUQUERQUE, Nov. 12, 2009  – Water Authority customers used more than the targeted amount of water for October, threatening the community’s chances to reach the  annual conservation goal for 2009. Water Authority customers used 2.493 billion gallons in last month, compared to the conservation target of 2.28 billion gallons, an overage of 213 million gallons.   This year’s water usage so far is 27.624 billion gallons – 1.556 billion gallons less than the year-to-date conservation goal. 

“We built up a conservation surplus over the summer, so we can still meet our annual goal,” said Katherine Yuhas, conservation officer for the Water Authority.  “The key is to cut way back on fall usage.  Even though the days have been warm, nights are cool and evaporation is low. Landscapes need very little water this time of year, and watering once a week should be plenty.”

The Water Authority’s Water by the Numbers program calls for residents to pick just one day  a week to water in November.  “If we stick with Water by the Numbers we can avoid mandatory day-of-the-week watering restrictions and still meet our per capita usage target of 150 gallons per day by 2012,” Yuhas said.

Yuhas also encouraged Water Authority customers to report water waste by calling 842-WATR.  For more water-saving tips and information on conservation rebates, visit www.abcwua.org.

Graphs: 2009 Monthly Production Goals and Actual Production

2008 Monthly Production Goals and Actual Production