Fun for all in annual water summit

The second annual Next Generation Water Summit is happening in Santa Fe April 29– May 1 with speakers from around the state and exhibitors with some of the newest technology. It is the water event of the year, not to miss! Sunday is free and open to the public. At the end of the day there will be a raffle for a 500-gallon rain barrel (and delivery). There will be exciting sessions to learn about water issues in the Southwest. Sunday will be kicked off by New Mexico Senate majority leader PeterWirth sharing what has been done on state water conservation and whatmore could be done to secure New Mexico’s water future. He will be followed by New Mexico political commenter Laura Paskus. After speakers there will be breakout sessions, offering something for everyone: • Learn composting basics from a pro. • Find out how to save water and money with City of Santa Fe rebate programs.

• Learn about graywater basics and new graywater rebates.

• Santa Fe has a “NoWater No Build” requirement. Find out how it helps reduce our water requirements.

• Urban food production with low water will be a future challenge. Learn how you can be part of the solution.

• Learn about the top 10 easiest and least costly energy-saving and water-saving devices for your home.

• TheWater Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) for new homes has been in effect since March 2017. Learn how much water it has saved.

• Learn about the history and future of acequias.

• Schools are large water users. Find out howmuchwater the Santa Fe School District has saved and how these savings have been accomplished.

Additionally, there will be over 30 exhibitors to visit. Some of the vendors include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with handouts onWaterSense water-saving fixtures and appliances; City of Santa Fe, rebate forms forWateSense fixtures and appliances; the ICF company, rebate forms from New Mexico Gas and PNM; Santa Fe Community College, showcasing its water energy classes; and the National Green Builder Coalition, discussing how WERS can be used to save water in new and existing homes.

For those that want to really dive into water issues around the Southwest, the professional summit follows on Monday and Tuesday. It features speakers from Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah discussing sustainable building practices and programs. Monday’s keynote is Jonathan Overpeck discussing climate-change impacts on the Colorado River and on Tuesday U.S. Senator Tom Udall tells about his efforts to build a more sustainable energy and water future in the Southwest.

For more information, visit www.NextGenerationWaterSummit.com.

Doug Pushard, founder of the website www.HarvestH2o.com, has designed and installed residential rainwater systems for over a decade. He is a member of the Santa FeWater Conservation Committee, a lifetime member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, and an EPAWaterSense Partner. He can be reached at doug@HarvestH2o.com.