Bernalillo County water utility asks residents to cut sprinkler use

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is asking customers to reduce sprinkler irrigation to two days a week as fall approaches, under the voluntary “Water by the Numbers” program. The request comes as overall water use this year is running about 4% higher than last year, according to the utility, which has set an annual daily conservation goal of 131 gallons per person per day.

“Cooler nights and shorter days mean less irrigation is required to keep lawns healthy,” said Barbara Baca, chair of the water authority’s governing board. “Ramping down our use now will help to ensure that the community meets its annual conservation goal.”

The utility attributes the higher use to drier and warmer conditions. August rainfall measured 3.48 inches, compared with 4.09 inches the previous year. Normal August rainfall is 5.68 inches, according to the utility. The month also ran two to three degrees warmer than last August.

Usage through August totaled 54,481 acre-feet, or about 18 billion gallons, according to a water authority news release. That works out to 125 gallons per person per day. The conservation goal of 131 gallons per person per day is set out in the utility’s long-term resource management plan, known as WATER 2120.

Customers can learn more about “Water by the Numbers” online.