by 505 Outside | Jan 1, 2019 | Blog, Water Conservation, Winter
The Water Authority’s rate structure serves two purposes:
1) To recover the operational costs associated with running a utility (e.g., delivering water to our customers, collecting and treating wastewater, and maintaining our infrastructure to ensure reliable service); and
2) To encourage all our customers to conserve.
In order to meet both of these goals, there are two components that determine your bill each month.
- The fixed charge. This is determined by your meter size and stays the same every month. Larger meter sizes have a higher fixed charge.
- The commodity charge. This is determined by how much water you use each month, so it changes. The commodity charge for each unit of water (1 unit = 748 gallons) is the same for all customers, so as you use more units the overall charge increases.
For most customers, their winter water bills are the lowest of the year. And yet, it is very important to be aware of your winter water use and how it relates to your water rates.
Based on your use during winter months of December-March, the Water Authority calculates your winter water average (WWA). Your winter water average is used in two rate calculations.
1) During the irrigation season (April – October), your WWA sets your conservation average which determines how much water you can use before conservation surcharges are assessed to your account. For example, if your WWA is 6 units (1 unit = 748 gallons), you can use up to 12 units per month before any conservation surcharges are assessed. This might make you think that using more water during the winter will help you save money on your bill during the summer. BUT….
2) The WWA serves a second purpose which is to determine your sewer rate for the entire following year. The Water Authority assumes that all the water you use during the winter (Dec – March) is going into the sewer system after use (rather than onto your landscape). So, your sewer charges are based on how much you used during the winter.
Use more during the winter and not only will you have to pay for the water you used and probably didn’t need, but you’ll also be driving your sewer rates up for the entire following year.
Some things you might be wondering about now that you know about the WWA and how it is calculated:
- For customers with a very low winter water use, the Water Authority sets their WWA at 4 for the purpose of calculating their irrigation season surcharges, but they are charged for sewer usage based on their actual winter water use.
- For customers with a very high winter water use, the Water Authority caps their conservation average at 15. This was established so that high water users could not avoid incurring irrigation surcharges.
- You can find your WWA on your water bill under the heading “Winter Average”. For most customers their Winter Average and their Conservation Average are the same. But, for customers with a very low or high winter usage, their conservation average will be adjusted as described in the two bullets above.
- There is a “low use” discount to reward customers who conserve all year long. During the billing months of April – October, if you use less than 150% of what all the other customers with your meter size used on average during the winter, you receive a 50% discount on the outdoor water use commodity charge portion of your bill.
- If you have a leak during the winter, it is important to contact the Water Authority’s Customer Service Division at 842-WATR (9287), Option 0 and review your account with a Customer Account Representative for any applicable adjustments.
A second article on water rates and conservation surcharges will follow in the spring!
Author: Katherine Yuhas, Water Resources Manager with Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
by 505 Outside | Aug 27, 2018 | Lawn Care, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation, Waterwise Tips
- Water the lawn only when needed
Step on the grass; if it springs back up when you move your foot, it does not need water. The Water Authority recommends watering just one day per week in March, two days per week in April and May, three days per week in the summer, two days per week in September and October, and one day per week in November.
- Accept a less-than-lush lawn
Grass will naturally go dormant during periods of drought but will readily regenerate when water becomes available. Reduce traffic on stressed turf areas if possible.
- Mow as infrequently as possible
Mowing puts the grass under additional stress that requires more water.
- Mow higher than normal
Longer leaf surfaces promote deeper rooting and shade the root zone. Never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in one mowing. Return mulched clippings to the lawn.
- Match fertilizer to the plant requirement
Fertilizer applications require additional water. Excess fertilizer stimulates top growth, often to the detriment of the root system. Learn to accept turf grasses with low water needs.
- Keep lawns free of weeds
Weeds are water thieves and will rob your plants of water and nutrients. Spot spray or remove weeds as they appear.
- Don’t water the pavement
- Move sprinkler heads away from curbs or sidewalks. 12” or more away from a paved service is a good rule of thumb.
Signs of under watering your grass:
- Turns bluish-grey
- Grass doesn’t spring back after being stepped on
- It is difficult to push a screwdriver into the soil
- Turf still feels warm after the sun has gone down
Signs of over watering your grass:
- Water is constantly pooled in areas
- Turf has a musty odor
- Soil is extremely soft and mushy
- Algae or mushrooms are present
by 505 Outside | Aug 27, 2018 | Do It Yourself (DIY), Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation, Waterwise Tips
- Use shut-off nozzles on hoses
Shut-off nozzles completely turn off the water when you are not using it.
- Install a hose watering system
If you are not ready to invest in an inground irrigation system there are automatic hose systems available. Instead of dragging your hose around the yard, this system allows you to set up your hose with appropriate watering system and water your yard at a set time and for a set length of time. Basically, it is a timer attached to your hose. You can even build a hose watering system that has multiple valves. Each valve can be set to water at various times throughout the day. For example, you could set one valve to water your vegetable garden for 10 minutes daily and another valve to water your perennials two times a week for 20 minutes.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation, Waterwise Tips
Efficient irrigation saves water. When plants are grouped by their water needs, plants that need water more often in summer, such as vegetable gardens, fruit trees or turf, can be accommodated while desert natives with the lowest water needs can be watered less often or not at all once they are well-rooted.
Choose lawn sprinklers that spray droplets, not high-pressure mist. They should have a low spray angle and be operated at the coolest, least windy times of day to minimize evaporative loss.
Most other plants should be watered with low-flow or drip irrigation equipment, applying water only where plant roots can access it, and only as often and as deeply as the plants require. Such careful application of water has the added advantage of minimizing weeds and preventing pest problems.
Plants use the least amount of water when they are dormant during the coldest winter months and the most water when they are actively growing, blooming and producing fruit in summer. In spring as temperatures rise and in autumn as temperatures fall, watering times should be adjusted to keep plants healthy without waste. Plants pushed with extra water in spring may leaf out or flower earlier, making them more vulnerable to late spring frosts. Likewise, watering too much in autumn can keep plants soft going into cold weather and make them more vulnerable to frost damage.
An automatic irrigation controller is only as efficient as the program that runs it – and the programmer who sets the run times – so program for wise water use, and water only as much as the landscape needs.
Remember, too, that even the best-designed irrigation system must be main- tained to retain its optimum efficiency. Fix leaks and make sure water lines are clean and unobstructed for peak performance.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Planting, Planting Tips, Water Conservation, Xeriscape
Choose native and low-water-use plants whenever possible. From the low desert of southern New Mexico to the foothills of the northern mountains, there is an amazing diversity of water-wise plants that we can use in our gardens. Whether you want to have year-round green, blazing flowers or a subtle blend of texture and color that changes through the seasons, there are well-adapted plants that can fill the space on a modest water budget. Grouping plants of like requirements also makes zoning irrigation easier and more efficient.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Lawn Care, Planting Tips, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation
New Mexico is the land of enchantment. The blue- grass state is Kentucky. People love our sunny skies and low humidity; bluegrass does not. How much thirsty lawn is appropriate here? Kentucky bluegrass is a cool season grass that requires a minimum of 40 inches of rainfall a year to stay lush and green. Many cities in New Mexico average 8 inches or less precipi- tation annually. That’s why we have to water bluegrass so much here in the high desert.
If we’re going to be serious about saving water, we have to rethink our lawns. The greatest value of cool season turf is its resilience as a play surface. Com- munities maintain public parks and playing fields with taxpayer dollars, and these cool amenities serve the citizens well. Homeowners generally don’t need a soccer field of turf in their backyards, and no one needs a huge expanse of water-guzzling turf in their front yard where its main use is outdoor carpeting.
There are hundreds of plants recommended for their medium and low water use in this guide including native grasses that can create a lush-looking green cover or gorgeous tapestry of color with less than half the water it takes to maintain a lawn.
