Visit Albuquerque prohibits users from downloading images from our website.

Please use our media library for downloadable images and usage rights.

WATER CONSERVATION

  • Former Governor Bill Richardson declared that 2007 was the Year of Water. With that, he announced numerous daring initiatives for water conservation and clean supply, including river ecosystem restoration, water recycling, water source protection, pipeline projects, and the streamlining of government agencies.  
  • Albuquerque won the 2006 World Leadership Award under the category of Utilities for its Sustainable Water Management Planning. 

  • The New Mexico Environment Department was established in 2005 to assure the safety of the state’s air supply, drinking water, food supply, and waste treatment and disposal.

  • The state established a Clean Water State Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for waste water and storm drainage water projects that protect surface and ground water.

  • Clean water is a top-of-mind subject to citizens of New Mexico.  The New Mexico Environmental Department has a Ground Water Quality Bureau, a Surface Water Quality Bureau and a Drinking Water Bureau.

  • Former Mayor Martin Chavez issued policy statements and initiatives on sustainability, addressing safe water, clean air, alternative energy and fuels, urban forestation, alternative transportation, “green” building, recycling, and global warming.  

  • Water in the Albuquerque area is managed by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, a joint agency of the City of Albuquerque and the County of Bernalillo that administers the water and waste water utility for all of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.  Conservation is a priority, and initiatives are being taken in water reclamation and recycling.

  • The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has three industrial water recycling projects

    • In the northern part of the city, the North I-25 Water Recycling Project takes non-potable industrial waste water and uses it to irrigate.

    • In the south, the Southside Water Recycling Project takes industrial water to irrigate.

    • The Non-Potable Water Reclamation Project has been set up to recycle industrial water to irrigate areas of Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights and adjoining areas west up to the Rio Grande.

  • Albuquerque is part of the huge San Juan-Chama Diversion Project, which channels water from the Colorado River through tunnels under the Continental Divide to the Protecting and preserving the aquifer is vital to this project.  

  • The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is conducting a Recharge Demonstration Project

    • To implement the Authority’s existing policy on aquifer storage and recover

    • To use San Juan-Chama water to recharge the aquifer

    • To use the aquifer to store surplus the San Juan-Chama water and establish a drought reserve
    • To establish the right to recover the recharged groundwater.
  • Individuals from industrial, municipal, institutional, and commercial sectors within have formed a non-profit group called the New Mexico Water Conservation Alliance, which meets regularly to exchange information and work collaboratively to promote healthy water supply and conservation throughout the state. Members of this group would be an excellent resource for local leadership, sponsors, speakers, and hosts for technical tours for a conference in Albuquerque.

  • Altela, Inc. is a manufacturing company located in Albuquerque, makers of the AltelaRainTM system.  This system desalinates and decontaminates groundwater and industrial waste water much more efficiently than previous technologies. There is a Long Term Ecological Project (LTEP) being studied at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in It is managed by the Department of Biology. The effects of climate change on the ecosystem is studied. 

  • Conservation education starts young, there is annual festival conducted in both the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho areas to educate school children and teachers in the importance of conserving water and how they can be involved.

  • The Albuquerque Journal regularly features articles on conservation and sustainability.  The mood is right here to support a conference with this theme!