Water conservation is an important and necessary part of managing any public water supply system. The New Mexico Water Conservation Planning Guide for Public Water Suppliers (Planning Guide) provides tools and step-by-step directions for developing a measureable and effective Water Conservation Plan for Public Water Suppliers (PWSs). Developing and implementing effective water conservation programs is a critical component of a Water Conservation Plan. Implementation of a water conservation program is a key action that can achieve the objectives and goals articulated by PWSs. Programs are at the heart of any successful conservation effort.
Water conservation programs are particularly critical in New Mexico, which is located in the high desert of the southwest where water has always been limited in quantity. The State Water Plan embraces the goal of ensuring a sustainable source of water for New Mexico through healthy watershed management. Water conservation is an essential piece of this goal, and the process of water conservation planning is a continuous effort. Data management is fundamental to ensure a measurable and effective process.
The first tool presented in the Planning Guide is the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Loss Control Committee Free Water Audit Software© (“Audit”). This software, which is offered by AWWA at no charge, provides a nationally recognized systematic method to organize water diversion data and track its path through the distribution system. A primary result of this analysis is “nonrevenue water,” which is an estimation of water losses, theft, meter inaccuracies, and non-billed authorized consumption. The Audit requires financial data to help value nonrevenue water. The Audit also provides a measure of confidence in the output.
The second tool presented in the Planning Guide is the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer’s (NMOSE) Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) Calculator (“GPCD Calculator”). This tool, also available at no charge, provides a standard method for organizing water diversions and end use. The GPCD Calculator has been extensively tested in New Mexico and is incorporated into many PWS NMOSE permit conditions. It breaks down end use into categories that can provide baseline data and identify trends. This enables PWSs to compare the effectiveness of end-use (demand-side) conservation programs to baseline use patterns.
PWSs should refer to this Planning Guide to learn how to use these tools and the additional steps outlined herein to make informed decisions about water management rather than randomly selecting programs from a list. In the long run, the process provided in this Planning Guide will save PWSs time and money and produce a more successful plan.
