Water utility offers smart plan for future generations
Having a plan is a necessity, and especially so when it comes to managing arguably the most important resource on earth — water.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority on Wednesday signed off on a comprehensive 100-year water plan that focuses on four areas: conservation, groundwater management, watershed restoration and reuse.
The plan expands on policies implemented in 1997 and 2007 for managing the region’s water that comes from two sources — an underground aquifer and the Rio Grande via the San Juan-Chama diversion project.
It calls for more consumer conservation so water can be set aside in storage in an effort to establish a groundwater reserve as a hedge against possible future shortages. “If we use less groundwater now, we will be able to use it during severe drought or other unforeseen events,” said John Stomp, water utility chief operating officer. The goal is to reduce water consumption from the current 130 gallons a day per person to 110 gallons a day by 2037. We’ve come a long way. In 1995, water usage was 251 gallons a day per person
Reusing treated water and in some cases stormwater for golf courses, parks and other nonpotable uses is also a goal. Restoring watersheds can help protect river water from being depleted or polluted by ash from catastrophic wildland fires.
So far this year the water utility has drawn 72 percent of its water from the river. And as a result of conservation by customers the aquifer is starting to recover from an alarming drawdown some years ago. It has risen 20 to 25 feet since 2008, and is projected to continue to rise for 10 years.
The plan also takes into account climate change predictions and projected population growth and allows for adjustments as they become necessary.
This is a well thought-out plan that is leading the water resource management game nationally in taking the long view in planning. This forward thinking and planning should serve water utility customers well for many years to come.