An updated Analysis of Water use in Albuquerque, Las Vegas Valley, and Tucson

A Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) Report (2006)

Written and edited by Taryn Hutchins-Cabibi, Bart Miller, and Anita Schwartz of Western Resources Advocates. Special thanks to Jordan Beezley for research assistance.

Cover photo: Jeff Widen, Bureau of Land Management,
American Water Works Assiciation, Jordan Beezley

Download Entire Report (61 Pages 4.6 MB)

Executive Summary

The southwestern United States, with its plentiful sunshine and mild climate, has seen unprecedented growth over the past few decades, and population projections show continued expansion well into the middle of the century. With more people also comes an increased demand for water. In the arid Southwest, meeting that demand can be a challenge. As water supplies across the Southwest have neared full appropriation, many water providers have turned to water conservation measures as a means to control demand and encourage efficient use of existing supplies. Many cities have implemented conservation measures and water rate structures that have resulted in reduced per-capita water use, while many other cities have been less effective in lowering per-capita water use. The great disparity that persists across the Southwest suggests that municipal water users still have much room for improved efficiency. Although each city’s situation is unique, cities can learn from one another and build from each other’s successes.

In this report we examine water use in three well-known metropolitan areas in the southwestern United States: Albuquerque, the Las Vegas Valley, and Tucson. Despite the similarities among these communities, the way that water is both used and managed is quite different. All three communities have demand-side management programs that are successfully reducing per-capita water use within their service areas; however, they take a very different approach. While it is important to recognize that all systems are unique, all three also have room for improvement.

Albuquerque

The City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) have taken numerous steps over the last decade to reduce per-capita water consumption. Their numerous rebate programs offer incentives for residents to replace inefficient appliances and fixtures with new, more efficient technologies. The city has also adopted landscape requirements for new development that limit the amount of high-water turf that can be installed. Water development in the service area is focused on reducing reliance upon groundwater with the delivery of San Juan-Chama water in 2008. Despite strong incentive-based programs and ordinances, the ABCWUA has a water rate structure that does not send a strong conservation price signal to consumers. Altering its water rate structure could not only reduce demand but also provide a financial incentive for those willing to use water more efficiently.

Las Vegas Valley

In this report, we examine the entire Las Vegas Valley, which encompasses 500 square miles in southern Nevada, stretching from the City of North Las Vegas down to Boulder City on the shores of Lake Mead. This area is nearly five times greater than the city of Las Vegas alone and is home to 1.7 million people. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is responsible for managing water resources in the valley and has implemented a number of measures on both the supply and demand management sides.

The SNWA offers a number of incentive-based measures that have been successful in reducing outdoor water use. Its turf replacement program is one of the most successful in the nation and offers customers as much as a 50% rebate per square foot, making turf replacement a more affordable option. The agency has also worked closely with the seven member agencies and the communities they represent to create and adopt model ordinances that further promote water conservation. However, the SNWA conservation program focuses almost entirely on outdoor conservation and largely ignores the savings potential of indoor water conservation measures. Like in Albuquerque, water rates in the Las Vegas Valley do not effectively represent the true cost of water and do not send a conservation price signal to consumers. Adjusting the pricing of each tier, so there is a noticeable jump in the per-unit cost from one block to the next, would likely result in significant water savings.

Tucson

Tucson utilizes a water rate structure that effectively sends a conservation signal to consumers and accurately represents the true cost of water. This rate structure requires that large-volume users, who place the most stress on the water delivery system, pay accordingly. This structure also provides an incentive for those who use less water by lowering their monthly water bills. However, Tucson lacks many other incentive-based conservation programs. Rebates for more efficient washers or ultra low-flush toilets may prove to be an effective means of further reducing use within the service area. Additionally, ordinances that limit the time of day during which water can be applied may reduce evaporative loss and provide more efficient application of water.

Each drop of water we use is taken from a river, stream, or aquifer. Wasteful and inefficient use threatens natural river systems throughout the Southwest, but improving efficiency can help to ensure that these rivers are able to thrive long after we are gone.