ALBUQUERQUE, AUGUST 22 – Results of the Water Authority’s 2012 Customer Opinion Survey have been released, and Water Authority customers continue to express a high level of satisfaction with the water and sewer services they receive.  However, there does appear to be some growing concerns about the state of the water and sewer infrastructure, as well as the potential impact of the Kirtland Air Force Base jet fuel spill on area water supplies.

Overall, the vast majority of both residential customers (86%) and commercial customers (84%) say they are very satisfied with the reliability and availability of water to their home/business.  Furthermore, the vast majority of both residential customers (84%) and commercial customers (90%) feel the water and sewer services they receive are a good value for the amount they pay.  These results are consistent with those observed in previous studies.

In the past two years there has been a decline in the percentage of customers who are satisfied with the condition of the water and sewer lines throughout the Water Authority’s service area.  While 56% of residential customers say they are at least somewhat satisfied with the condition of the water lines, 26% are dissatisfied.  In comparison, 69% of residential customers were satisfied with the condition of the water lines in 2010. 

More than 50% of those surveyed said they were at least somewhat knowledgeable about the fuel spill migrating through the underground aquifer near Kirtland Air Force Base.  Of these, 64%  say it is very important that the Air Force clean the spill and another 33% say it is somewhat important.  While the vast majority of residential customers who are aware of the Kirtland jet fuel spill say it is important for the Air Force to rectify the situation, just 11% are very satisfied with the effectiveness of the clean-up efforts thus far and 33% are somewhat satisfied.  Over two-fifths (42%) are dissatisfied with the Air Force’s effectiveness in cleaning the spill.

For a complete summary of the Customer Opinion Survey, click here.