Water Conservation
Conserving for Future Generations
Santa Fe's long-standing water conservation and drought management programs are the best in the Southwest with respect to both comprehensiveness and effectiveness. A primary measure of Santa Fe's water conservation and drought management success is declining total annual water diversions (29%) to serve a growing number of customers (14%) since 1995.
The annual water diversions totaled 9,226 acre-feet in 2010, compared with 12,737 acre-feet in 1995, while the number of customers served by Sangre de Cristo Water increased to an estimated 79,244 people in 2010, from an estimated 67,839 in 1995.
For more information about water conservation in Santa Fe, download the
Water Conservation and Drought Management Plan.
Per Capita Water Use
Per capita water use is the key performance measure of any municipal water conservation program. The City of Santa Fe computes its per capita water use as the daily average of annual total water diversions from all sources of supply, less bulk water deliveries to the County of Santa Fe and Las Campanas, divided by the estimated customer population served.
Sangre de Cristo water customers reduced their water use by 38 percent from 1995 to 2010. The dedication to conserve water has been extraordinary, with per person usage dropping from 168 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) in 1995, to 104 gpcd by the end of 2010.
Santa Fe has achieved low per capita water demand levels through the implementation of a comprehensive set of ordinances that require Santa Fe's citizens and businesses comply with water conservation requirements designed to provide financial incentives to conserve water. These low per capita per day water production statistics are among the lowest in New Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
For more information about water demand and supply, download
Annual Water Report 2010.
Landscape Irrigation Design Standards
Landscape Irrigation Design Standards (LIDS) represent the findings of a study to research options for improving irrigation efficiencies. The issues related to inefficient irrigation were researched with the conclusion that the development of an efficiency guide (LIDS) for irrigation systems is needed to provide a framework to improve irrigation system efficiency with the goal to protect our water resources.
The primary objective is to improve the design, installation, and maintenance of irrigation systems and to standardize all irrigation work by providing water resource information. Included is specific information for the City of Santa Fe. The intention of this guide is to serve as a resource for irrigation designers, landscape architects, contractors, developers, maintenance personnel, and water managers working for the improvement of landscape water efficiency in accordance with commonly accepted industry practice.
Download LIDS
Water Conservation Program Fee
The City of Santa Fe has successfully implemented comprehensive water conservation and drought management programs. These programs have evolved over time and each may continue to change in accordance with the policy direction and decisions of the City of Santa Fe City Council.
In a continuing effort to reduce the per capita water use in Santa Fe, funds are needed for existing rebate programs and future water conservation efforts. On January 9, 2008 the Santa Fe City Council approved a new
rate schedule (Rate Schedule 10 of Exhibit B, Subsection 25-4.2, Chapter 25 SFCC 1987) establishing a special charge for all water service customers in order to fund water conservation programs.
Residential and commercial water customers will pay a once per year water conservation program charge included in the customer's April water bill. The charge for multi-family customers will be split into four equal payments billed quarterly. The fee will not be applicable to Sangre de Cristo Water's life line customers. The revenue collected will be specifically set aside to fund water conservation programs.