Aztec now limits outdoor watering to once a week after the city found it has only a 30-day water supply in its reservoirs.
AZTEC, N.M. – Aztec now limits outdoor watering to once a week after the city found it has only a 30-day water supply in its reservoirs.
Troy Morris, Aztec’s acting city manager, said the city tied the limited supply to a faulty water pump he found after taking over in July.
“We discovered that we have reservoirs in the city of Aztec, but theres only a 30 day supply of water in those reservoirs,” Morris said.
The city ordered a replacement pump and still waits for it to arrive. Morris said the current Stage 3 restrictions now require how people manage water outside their homes.
“They’re only going to be able to water once a week. Its Wednesdays for even number addresses, and its Thursday for the odd addresses,” Morris said.
What can residents do?
Lawn care professionals said using less water does not always mean giving up a healthy lawn.
“The moisture manager, it doesn’t cut down on how much water you can use, but it does cut down on how much water you can effectively use,” said Travis Rowe, co-owner of Apex Lawn and Service.
There’s no word yet when the city will lift the restrictions, and he said they could stay in place for at least 30 days and possibly two months.
“I would say it would a least be 30 days maybe even two months because we have to keep those reservoirs full until we get our ditch pump back. In fact, I’d probably wait until we get our ditch pump back, so it all just depends on how quick they can get that ditch pump back,” Morris said.
Morris said conserving water now could help protect the city’s remaining supply until the pump returns.
