High Desert Residential Owners Association Website

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority is reminding customers that the spring/summer time-of-day watering restrictions now in place restricting landscape irrigation to 7 p.m.-11 a.m. ended on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Time-of-day restrictions will resume on April 1, 2010.

In addition, the Water Authority Board has repealed the winter restrictions of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that were in effect in previous years. However, Katherine Yuhas, the Water Authority’s conservation officer, reminds everyone to use common sense and to drastically reduce watering their landscapes or stop altogether.

The water restrictions were issued through the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA). The ABCWUA is a joint agency of the City of Albuquerque and the County of Bernalillo that administers the water and wastewater utility for all of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. (To read more, click here.)

For more information on water restrictions and use, see the ABCWUA website at: http://abcwua.org/waterconservation/restrictions.html

Request a Water Restriction Variance or Exemption

Variances from the city's summertime water restrictions can be obtained for the following reasons:

One day only exemption where treatment with an application of chemical requires immediate watering to preserve the existing landscape or to establish a new landscape.
One day only exemption to allow for spray irrigation necessary where the irrigation system has been disabled for longer than forty-eight hours and immediate watering is required to preserve the existing landscape.
30 day exemption allowing for spray irrigation necessary to establish new sod.
45 day variance to allow for spray irrigation necessary to establish inter-seeded (also known as reseeded) within an existing turf area.
120 day variance allowing for spray irrigation to establish newly seeded areas with the intent of establishing a turf area.
Variance request for a period of one year or less necessary to come into compliance with the Water Waste ordinance.

Homeowners can apply for variances online at: http://abcwua.org/waterconservation/exemption.html

2009 Outdoor Rebates

The Water Conservation program will offer the following rebates as part of a comprehensive outdoor rebate program:

25 percent off the cost of multi-setting sprinkler controller.
25 percent off the cost of renting equipment for removal of grass (e.g. sodcutter, backhoe or Bobcat) when participating in the xeriscape rebate program. Maximum rebate credit - $50.
$25 each for purchase of rain sensors, pressure regulation valves and pressure vacuum break (PVB) backflow prevention valves, atmospheric vacuum breaks (AVB) do not qualify. One rebate for each item will be granted per account, unless there is more than one irrigation system for the account.
Rainwater Harvesting rebates will be based upon the amount of rain that can be stored:
$25 for 50 - 149 gallons
$50 for 150 – 299 gallons
$75 for 300 – 499 gallons
$100 for 500 – 999 gallons
$125 for 1000 – 1499 gallons
$150 for 1500 gallons and over
Multi-stream rotor heads for sprinklers: $2 per head.

Compost: 25% of the cost when participating in the xeriscape rebate program. Maximum rebate: $100 per account.

The limit on the square footage of high water use landscape that can qualify for rebate credit when converted to xeriscape will be removed for both residential and commercial customers.

Click here to see a complete list of rebates on the ABCWUA website.

Other Rebates

The city also offers rebates for homeowners using low flow toilets, washing machines and hot water recirculating systems.

For a complete list go to: http://abcwua.org/waterconservation/washingmach.html and choose from the appliance listed on the right-hand side below "Rebates."