Water-saving practices can yield big rewards
April 1 brings more than funny pranks. Tomorrow, Albuquerque's annual daytime watering restrictions start.
Under watering rules, outdoor sprinklers should only be used between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.
The restrictions last until Oct. 1.
The reasons for them should be obvious. Though you wouldn't know it from most parts of the UNM campus, we live in a desert.
According to the City of Albuquerque's Web site, more than half of the water from sprinkler use during the day can evaporate or be blown away by the wind.
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Albuquerque gets its water from the ground. According to a 1993 study from the U.S. Geological Survey, there is less groundwater than people previously thought. It wasn't being replenished as fast as people thought, the Albuquerque Web site reports.
According to the city, 71 percent of Albuquerque's water use is residential. There are ways to save water in your everyday routine in addition to following the city's ban on daytime watering.
You can turn off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth, which can save three to seven gallons of water per minute, according to the city's Web site.
People can also take shorter showers or a bath in a partially filled tub to save water. Checking regularly for leaks can also help prevent you from unknowingly wasting water.
They're small changes, but they can add up to make a big difference.
