Comments on: A goal already missed http://newmexicoindependent.com/936/a-goal-already-missed New Mexico news and politics Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sabiadeagua http://newmexicoindependent.com/936/a-goal-already-missed#comment-736 sabiadeagua Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.121.217/?p=936#comment-736 While it is important to track our per capita consumption, keeping track of how much we use is also important. Unlike other water utilities, the ABC WUA no longer posts usage on their web site. But such information can show how much we are saving as well as if we are using more than before. Conservation of water is, as Mark Sanchez, the executive director of the ABC WUA, the cheapest source of water. But even that --particularly if reallocated to new uses-- can only be stretched so far. The conditions of approval to use the San Juan Chama water call for a reduction in our per capita consumption. Other legal, environmental, ethical, fiscal and physical constraints prevent us from simply increasing our usage. Making information available will help us understand those constraints. By the way, per capita consumption is calculated differently by different providers. The known number is the number of hookups. That is multiplied by an estimated number of users at each hookup. One water utility might use 2.89 persons per household and another 2.75. Without knowing the assumptions made, it is nearly impossible to compare usages. Elaine Hebard While it is important to track our per capita consumption, keeping track of how much we use is also important. Unlike other water utilities, the ABC WUA no longer posts usage on their web site. But such information can show how much we are saving as well as if we are using more than before.

Conservation of water is, as Mark Sanchez, the executive director of the ABC WUA, the cheapest source of water. But even that –particularly if reallocated to new uses– can only be stretched so far.

The conditions of approval to use the San Juan Chama water call for a reduction in our per capita consumption. Other legal, environmental, ethical, fiscal and physical constraints prevent us from simply increasing our usage. Making information available will help us understand those constraints.

By the way, per capita consumption is calculated differently by different providers. The known number is the number of hookups. That is multiplied by an estimated number of users at each hookup. One water utility might use 2.89 persons per household and another 2.75. Without knowing the assumptions made, it is nearly impossible to compare usages.

Elaine Hebard

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