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31 - Sustainable water supply

Goal 5 - DCC 31 - Water resources are sustainably managed, conserved and protected to provide a long-term supply and drought reserve.

Albuquerque citizens continue to consistently reduce their daily water consumption. Water withdrawal from the aquifer exceeds recharge, although the rate of discharge has declined.

INDICATORS

LOCAL TREND:

Water is one of our most precious natural resources. When a region cannot sufficiently supply the demand for water, shortages, restrictions on water use, and price increases can result, impacting residents' quality of life. Over the last 5 years, Albuquerque's per capita water usage has fallen 15% from 197 gallons to 167 gallons per capita per day. Since 2000, aquifer levels of the Rio Grande Basin within Bernalillo County have decreased over 100 feet, although year-to-year storage withdrawal is declining.

NATIONAL/REGIONAL COMPARISON:

Among seven peer Southwest communities, Albuquerque has the fourth highest gallons per capita per day (GPCD). This is 40% lower than Salt Lake City (the highest user compared). Excluding Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and the other cities have downward trends in water usage since 2002. Comparative data for aquifer levels or water resource management and protection is unavailable.

CITIZEN PERCEPTION:

Relative to all other Desired Community Conditions, in 2007 citizens believed this condition to be very important (ranking it 3rd among all conditions). At the same time, progress is ranked in the top 20% of all conditions. For residents of Central Albuquerque (includes downtown area), Near Heights (includes UNM), and the North Valley, there is a significant gap between perception of importance and perception of progress.

Opportunity to