February 6, 2006

The cities of Alamogordo, (NM), and Cerritos, (CA) received the Conference of Mayors’ 2005 Municipal Water Conservation Achievement Awards, presented for the first time by Conference of Mayors Urban Water Council Chair Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, January 27. Alamogordo Mayor Donald E. Carroll and Cerritos Mayor John F. Crawley along with councilmember Laura Lee received the awards, which recognize the water conservation efforts of both cities. The Conference of Mayors 2005 National City Water Survey Report indicates that 35 percent of surveyed cities will not have an adequate water supply in 20 years.

Research by the Urban Water Council suggests that cities can conserve water through a variety of techniques. The Conference of Mayors established the Municipal Water Conservation Achievement Awards Program in 2005 to both recognize and reward cities that establish and implement effective water conservation programs. The winners of the 2005 Awards have documented outstanding achievement in this area.

Alamogordo won the award for “Innovative Water Conservation.” Through a focus on commercial, construction, institutional and residential sectors, the 35,000 population city conserved more than one billion gallons of water over a ten-year period (1994 to 2004) — even with population growth of nearly 29 percent. One of the more innovative conservation applications involved covering and lining the city reservoirs to minimize evaporative losses and leaking. Water supplies of cities in arid climates are vulnerable to losses from both temperature related evaporation and wind.

Cerritos won the award for “Overall Water Conservation,” and focused primarily on the institutional (municipal facilities and grounds) sector. Cerritos saves approximately 815 million gallons of potable water each year through an extensive water recycling system. With a population of 51,488, the city participates in water conservation programs such as tours to local schools, ultra-low-flush toilet rebate and distribution programs, a high-efficiency clothes washer rebate program; and a water-saving toilet program.

In addition to receiving the first Municipal Water Conservation Achievement Awards, each of the cities received a check for $5,000 to continue their efforts.