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505-768-3655

Water Waste Hotline
505-768-3640

John Stomp
jstomp@abcwua.org
Manager,
Water Resources Program
(505)768-3631

Katherine Yuhas
kyuhas@abcwua.org
Water Conservation Officer
(505)768-3633

Sharon Sivinski
ssivinski@abcwua.org
Water Education Coordinator
(505)768-3245

Carol Edwards
cedwards@abcwua.org
Water Use
Compliance Coordinator
(505)768-3604

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Home arrow Water Conservation arrow Water Waste arrow Apply for a Water Waste Exemption
Applying for a Water Waste Exemption PDF Print E-mail

This application is for requesting an exemption from Section 4-1-6 of the Water Waste Ordinance. The application will be considered pending on the date it is received by the Water Utility.

Once your application is received, enforcement activities will be suspended for the described area during the review process. An exemption request does not affect enforcement of violations which occurred prior to your application.

The Water Waste Ordinance provides the framework for exemption requests:

§ 4-1-8. EXEMPTIONS AND APPEALS
The Executive Director shall be responsible for the enforcement of this article. The
Executive Director may prescribe policies, rules, or regulations to carry out the intent
and purposes of this article.

(A) Exemptions to § 4-1-4 (Watering Restrictions) and § 4-1-5 (Water
Conservation Requirements for New Construction) and § 4-1-6 (Water Waste), and § [-
4-1-7 (Special Permits).

(1) Administrative exemptions to the restrictions in §§ 4-1-4, 4-1-5, 4-1-6
and 4-1-7 may be issued by the Executive Director or his/her designee, provided that
the general intent of this article has been met, compliance with this article is proven to
cause practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship, and all options for abatement
through modified water management have been exhausted. The criteria to determine
hardship shall include level of capital outlay and time required to be in compliance with
this article.

(2) Water Waste Exemptions may be issued for a period not to exceed
one year and shall stipulate both short-term corrective measures and a schedule for
completion of long-term corrective measures. Exemptions may be renewed on an annual basis if long-term corrective measures cannot be completed within one year.

It is your responsibility to provide detailed information to support your exemption application. Your exemption request must convincingly show that you have met all four of these criteria:

  1. the general intent of the ordinance has been met;
  2. compliance is proven to cause practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship;
  3. all options for abatement through modified water management have been exhausted;
  4. a plan exists to bring the property into compliance within one year.

Exemptions are intended to be for a period of one year or less. Any exemption granted will require the implementation of scheduled corrective measures for a one-year compliance strategy. Failure to abide by the conditions of an exemption may result in revocation and enforcement actions. Please be sure your application includes a detailed schedule for compliance within one year.

This process may require a site inspection of the property. If the application involves landscape irrigation water, it is beneficial to have both the landscape maintenance contractor and the property manager or owner available during the site inspection. The Water Utility will contact you to schedule a site inspection.

You will be notified whether your application has been approved or denied.

If you require assistance to complete your application please contact Carol Edwards at 768-3604 or the Water Waste Hotline at 768-3640.

Water Waste Exemption Application Form
Property Owner: required
Contact Person: required
Email: required
Phone: required
Fax:
Mailing Address:
required
Water Utility Account Number: required
Property Address:
required
Describe in detail the reason for the exemption request. Specifically, what is the nature of the water waste for which the exemption is requested? What other factors contribute to this occurrence of water waste? On which portion of the described property does the water waste occur? Would immediate compliance threaten the health, safety or welfare of the public?
Detailed Reason:
required
Describe how immediately stopping water waste would result in practical difficulty and unnecessary hardship. Provide supporting documentation.
Hardship Reason:
required
If the variance request is related to an irrigation use, please complete Section A. If the exemption sought for other use, complete Section B. All applicants should complete the compliance schedule.
SECTION A - For irrigation use only.
1. What is the square footage of irrigated property? Include a diagram if available. If more than 10,000 square feet, include the results of an irrigation audit conducted by a Certified Irrigation Auditor, or performed to the standards of the Irrigation Association (designate "Attachment B").
Square Footage:
2. Describe the historical and current rate of usage for the property. Provide the monthly irrigation in gallons and/or precipitation equivalents for the preceding year. Designate as "Attachment C."
Historical/Current Usage Rate:
3. Approval of your application requires you to demonstrate that you have exhausted all practical means to avoid water waste. Describe in detail the efforts you have made to stop irrigation water waste and the dates they were implemented (designate as "Attachment D," if necessary). Attach copies of appropriate supporting documentation, if available.
Describe Efforts:
4. What is the total cost to date of your efforts to stop water waste?
$
Provide a breakdown of total costs expressed in dollars or percentage of total:
a. Equipment: $
b. Personnel: $
c. Other: $
5. How many personnel hours have been invested to stop water waste?
Hours:
6. What is the projected cost to immediately stop water waste?
$
SECTION B – For non-irrigation waster waste only
1. What is the purpose of the water use?
Purpose of Water Use:
2. How frequently is this activity conducted?
Frequency:
3. How many gallons of water are necessary to accomplish your goal?
Gallons:
4. Describe in detail your efforts to use alternative methods to accomplish your goal or to stop water waste.
Alternative Methods:
5. What is the total cost to date of your efforts to stop water waste?
$
Provide a breakdown of total costs expressed in dollars or percentage of total:
a. Equipment: $
b. Personnel: $
c. Other: $
6. How many personnel hours have been invested to stop water waste?
Hours:
7. What is the projected cost to immediately stop water waste?
 
SECTION C- Proposed Compliance Schedule To be completed for all variance applications. Provide a detailed plan to comply with the water waste regulations within one year.
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost:
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
 
Date of Completion: (mm/dd/yy)
Action:
Estimated Cost: $
Area Description:
To prevent spam, please type exactly the letters that you see:    Required
 
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 September 2008 )
 

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Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
P.O. Box 1293, Albuquerque, NM 87103
Phone: (505) 768-2500 | Fax: (505) 768-2580 | Email: wainfo@abcwua.org

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority