Avoid leaks with EyeOnWater app

The City’sWater Conservation program has recently been working with customer service to alert city water customers of possible leaks associated with their accounts. With the city’s new smart meter technology, every account holder is able to monitor his or her water use on an hourly basis using the new EyeOnWater app. The technology also allows city staff to be alerted of potential leaks across the entire system. This allows us the opportunity to do some outreach to try to alert our customers of issues that might be occurring on their property.

Currently we are targeting all leaks greater than 7.5 gallons per hour. We are finding that most of these leaks are associated with leaks in irrigation systems. If you receive a phone call from our office or a letter in themail, please consider that there may be a potential leak on your property.

What we suggest you do is first sign up for the free EyeOnWater app. Directions can be found at www.savewatersantafe. com. By looking at your water usage, you may be able to identify what the higher usage is associated with. If not, you can give our office a call andWater Conservation staff can conduct an indoor and outdoor water analysis to see if we can help identify the leak as well as offer suggestions to conserve water both outdoor and indoors.

Before the technology existed, when customers were faced with a high water bill indicating that something out of the ordinary had happened, it was usually subsequently determined that a leak had occurred. The customer was faced with reconciling a high water bill, finding and fixing the leak, and having to work with customer service on a leak adjustment credit.

Because the leak could have been ongoing for over a month, damage to the property might have also occurred. The excessive usage might have also put the customer into Tier 2 water rates that would increase bills considerably. The EyeOnWater app eliminates most of these issues. You are alerted of a leak within 24 hours and the issue work be addressed immediately. When we see an ongoing continuous flow that exceeds the 7.5 gallon-per-hour threshold, we go an additional step in trying to notify the customer as well.

Ongoing leaks can be avoided by using the EyeOnWater app. Water Conservation staff is also committed to helping our customers by notifying them of potential leaks as well. If you receive a phone call or letter in the mail, please accept it as our best effort to help you. We are all committed to SavingWater in Santa Fe and the EyeOnWater app certainly is a tool we can all benefit from using. For more information please visit www.savewatersantafe. com or call 505-955-4225.

Christine Y. Chavez has a background in water rights administration and energy and water conservation program management in the state of New Mexico. She is a graduate of New Mexico State University with a B.S. in environmental science and an M.S. in biology. Christine is theWater Conservation Manager for the City of Santa Fe. She may be reached at 505.955.4219 or cychavez@santafenm.gov.