Water Conservation

The Water Conservation Program administers the Water Conservation Ordinance. We receive reports of water waste on the program hotline, 575-528-4444, and via Ask Las Cruces, issue variances, and report water conservation efforts and water use to the Office of the State Engineer.  We also offer information to help reduce indoor and outdoor water usage.

Contact Rhonda Diaz, Water Conservation Program Coordinator, for more information at 575-528-3549, or email [email protected].

water sprayerWatering Restrictions

  • Mondays – no outdoor watering
  • Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays – outdoor watering for even-numbered addresses (ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8)
  • Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays – outdoor watering for odd-numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)

Note: Between April 1 and September 30 outdoor watering is only allowed before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m

Request a variance to the ordinance, or for help reducing your water usage, contact Rhonda Diaz, Water Conservation Program Coordinator, at 575-528-3549 or email: [email protected] or [email protected].

Purpose

The purpose of the Lush and Lean program is to help residents of Las Cruces make the best use of the limited water resources available by developing and maintaining gardens and landscapes that are also water-wise. Each year the Water Conservation Program hosts a series of workshops on water-wise landscaping, irrigation, gardening, and related topics. The workshops are free and open to the public.

FALL WORKSHOPS

Lush and Lean Workshops are Presented at Branigan Memorial Library Roadrunner Room, 200 E. Picacho Avenue. They take place from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. All workshops are free.

October 3, 2024
Common Plant Diseases and Disorders in New Mexico

Cactus and succulentsPresented by Phillip Lujan, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathologist, Manager of Plant Diagnostic Clinic, NMSU.
Learn how plants get diseases, common ones we find in our area, and strategies to prevent or manage them. Learn how to utilize the NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Attendees are welcome to bring samples for diagnosis IF time allows.

October 10, 2024
Weeds: Best Practices for Fall/Winter

Presented by Leslie Beck, Ph.D., Extension Weed Specialist, NMSU.Pink flower with butterfly
By identifying a plant, we can use its biology to target weed control strategies that are sustainable and successful with less effort, and select tools and application timings for better weed management practices. Attendees are welcome to bring samples for identification IF time allows.

October 17, 2024
Coverage: Rethink the Ground

pink flower buddingPresented by David Cristiani, owner of Quercus, landscape design consultation firm.
Create an appealing and functional garden for our arid region by choosing better options than gravelscaping and turfgrass.

October 24, 2024
Plan Now for Spring Greens & Wildflowers

Presented by Jackye Meinecke, former owner of Enchanted Gardens, local lecturer and author.Pink flowers on green stems - Lush and Lean Presentation
Fall is an excellent time to start a variety of herbs and cooking greens to enjoy during the chilly months and into spring, and sow wildflowers to bloom after winter.

November 7, 2024
Cacti and Other Succulents for Your Garden

Orange Plants and cactusPresented by Gertrud Konings, Ph.D., retired biology professor, coauthor of “Cacti of Texas in Their Natural Habitat”
Learn what makes our local cacti and succulents appreciated worldwide! Tips about care and propagation will be provided and suggestions on how you can get involved in rescuing these precious natives that are part of our Chihuahuan Desert.

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Each year the Water Conservation Program hosts a day-long water festival for grade school children. Last year’s theme (2023) was “Don’t Let Water go Extinct.”

Last year’s event took place May 3, 2023 and featured informative exhibits and hands-on activities about hydrology, cultural uses of water, local geography, and environmental impacts.

Events

Hundreds of fourth grade students, teachers and chaperones from elementary schools attend the festival. Eager learners were greeted with a welcome packet that included a Water Festival Passport. The kids fill out the passports as they visited a variety of presentations at booths staffed by local organizations and agencies. Every booth provided fun, hands-on activities about different aspects of water resources.

The kids had a blast while learning about water and the environment.

Photo Galleries

The Las Cruces Utilities Demonstration Garden showcases a wide variety of low-water and desert-adapted plants suitable for cultivation in our area.

For further information & planting ideas, download our Demonstration Garden Guide (PDF)

Educational Resources for Kids

More Resources For Educators Can Be Found on the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer / Interstate Stream Commission Website.

Water Conservation Websites
Indoor Water Use

There are two basic ways to conserve water:

  • Cultivate water-wise habits
  • Install low-flow infrastructure

Quick Links

Water Efficiency Evaluation

View Our Water Efficiency Evaluation (PDF) – This is a checklist for evaluating water use inside and outside a home. Identify areas where additional water savings can be found. Intended for use by professional home inspectors, this checklist can also be used by “handy” home owners. Or, if you are about to purchase a property, ask your building inspector to conduct this inspection, too.

Additional Resources

The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer / Interstate Stream Commission Website provides many other valuable materials on water conservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces Utilities plans 40 years in advance, continuing to develop and maintain a sustainable water supply through a proactive conservation program using water from three possible sources: Mesilla Basin and Jornada del Muerto.

Las Cruces Utilities is a permitted water system allowed only a limited amount of water from the two aquifers. That’s why it’s so important to save water. Every community is faced with planning for future water use… and conservation is a critical part of our water plan now and in the future. It is vital that we do everything we can to decrease our water consumption. Las Cruces Utilities encourages plumbing fixture retrofits, water saving landscapes, and improved habits to decrease our everyday water use.

It is legal to harvest rainwater from your residence in New Mexico and in Las Cruces. There are a variety of ways to do this, from capturing water in depressions on the ground, called swales, to capturing water from the roof in a barrel or tank.

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