July 14, 2023 – Reducing outdoor water waste will be a main focus of Water Authority conservation staff this summer as the utility launches a new advertising campaign asking customers to report infractions online.

The campaign includes television, radio and billboard messages raising awareness about the Water Authority’s Water Waste Ordinance, which prohibits overspray or overflow of water onto adjoining property, sidewalks and public rights of way, and also prohibits sprinkler use between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. during watering season. Violations of the utility’s Water Waste Ordinance can result in fines, but the Water Authority issues warnings and provides time to correct problems before any penalties are assessed.

“The ordinance is an important conservation tool because it requires responsible use of water outdoors, where there is a lot of potential for waste,” said Water Authority Board Chairman Eric C. Olivas, who also serves as a Bernalillo County Commissioner. “We obtain a great deal of our drinking water from the severely drought-impacted Colorado River Basin, so it is especially important that we use that water responsibly.”

People observing water waste are encouraged to report it by using the Water Authority’s online form.