Keeping the water flowing
Of course, Mayor Alan Webber uses more water than the average citizen. He and his wife, Frances Diemoz, live in a 5,000-square-foot home on Upper Canyon Road on 4.5 acres, with 19 fruit trees, more than 80 deciduous and evergreen trees and 20 piñon trees on an acre of irrigated land.
That’s a lot to maintain, so the couple irrigates. In September, they used some 50,000 gallons a month, as compared to 5,097 — the average number of gallons consumed at single-family homes. This is the same mayor who is challenging Santa Fe residents to reduce water use as part of a campaign to help the city claim the crown of most water-wise municipality in the country. Through mywaterpledge.com, people across the nation have promised to save 1 billion gallons.
An open-records request from New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón found the mayor is not always as water-wise as he wants citizens to be. That’s not because he is using so much water on his trees and property; it’s because, as the mayor admits, his irrigation system is aging. Fixes have been done, but it is obvious the entire system likely needs an overhaul. The Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, Webber said, is becoming an impetus to get the work done (reducing his monthly water bill, which can go as high as $1,000, also might be a reason).
The tale of Webber’s water, despite being somewhat embarrassing for the sustainability mayor, offers lessons for all of us. To Webber’s credit, he answered questions about his water use and did not appear offended that reporters were asking just how much water he is using. He is not a thin-skinned guy, always a good quality in a politician. As Webber wrote (he wouldn’t answer questions in person but did so in writing), “People expect the mayor to set a good example. I think it’s completely appropriate for [The New Mexican] to look at my water usage.”
Yes, he and his wife will use more than most residents. They have a bigger house and more acreage to water — and it can be argued (and we have) that keeping trees alive during this drought is essential to the health of Santa Fe. What’s important is that Webber — and the rest of us — don’t waste water while attending to what needs to be done around our homes.
All residents need to pay attention to their water use. The city makes it easy, too. The city’s Water Division has a digital app — Eye on Water — that will let its customers see how they are doing when it comes to using or conserving water. A leak (whether from a toilet flap or a drip system) can show up immediately, meaning that a water utility customer won’t be out hundreds of dollars before the problem is caught. The app can even catch water thieves, or alert an absent homeowner if someone is in the house using water when it should be empty.
One of the best ways to be more aware of water usage is to download the app and exploring it. The mayor already has done so. (To join him and others, go to www.eyeonwater.com/ signup.) All residents can, if they haven’t already, install lowflow shower heads, or remember to shut off the faucet when brushing their teeth or washing their faces. Some intrepid souls even jump in the shower, soap up, then turn off the spout as they wash their hair before turning the water back on to rinse. Dedicated conservationists have rain barrels and graywater systems to ensure that they are making the best use of this precious resource. Large-area landowners, especially, should make sure they are not just using but reusing this precious resource.
As the state continues through what is likely to be another extended dry spell we can all do more to use water wisely. With the National Integrated Drought Information System showing that 99 percent of New Mexico is in drought, we likely will be changing how we use water in Santa Fe and the rest of the state. All users must monitor the water that flows out of the taps, whether they’re living on Canyon Road or on Airport Road. By succeeding in conservation, we can continue to thrive, even in a drought.