The Water Conservation Program works to sustain the supply of our precious water for future use. We:
–Administer the Water Conservation Ordinance that regulates outdoor watering. Please report water waste to our program hotline at 575-528-4444.
–Address abnormal water consumption by alerting customers when possible. Las Cruces Utilities gas and water customers can set up their own alerts by registering for Utility Hawk at LCUtilityHawk.com
–Educate the public so conservation efforts are adopted and self-motivated because they are supported by personal knowledge.
Contact Rhonda Diaz, Water Conservation Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 575-528-3549 for more information.
Each spring & fall the Water Conservation Program hosts a series of free workshops on Water Wise Landscaping, irrigation, gardening and related topics. The purpose is to help Las Cruces residents make the best use of limited water resources by creating water-wise and sustainable landscapes and gardens.
If you missed our recent series, you can still learn about the wonderful ways to conserve water by watching our most recent recorded workshops.
Lush and Lean Workshops
View Previous Workshops
(Click Individual Videos Below for Each Workshop)
Demonstration Garden:
The Las Cruces Utility office showcases a wide variety of low water & desert adapted plants. Come visit to see mature plants in season. 618 N. Motel Blvd. The Garden is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Event
Spring Stroll in the Garden,
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
9 a.m. to noon.
In this desert climate all new plants will need some irrigation to get started in the Landscape. Most plants will need continued irrigation throughout their lifespan. Proper maintenance & scheduling of irrigation can save water, plants and money.
Did you know?
As much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is wasted from inefficient watering methods and systems.
Curb your water waste!
Check your Irrigation monthly. It’s easy! Turn on the system and let it run, look for leaks, is water getting to all the plants?
Is water running off property or being wasted by watering where there are no plants?
REPORT WATER WASTE!
575-528-4444
Watering 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)
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].
Kids
The Conserve Water Las Cruces Kids in the Garden event is coming up. This event is for kids ages 3-17 (must be accompanied by an adult).
Join us from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the Las Cruces Utilities Demonstration Garden, 680 N. Motel Boulevard.
Event Details:
-NMSU Arthropod Collection and live bugs to interact with.
-Learning about “Fungi: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
-Learning about trees.
-Making our own compost from kitchen and garden scraps.
-Tierra Sagrada Seed Library – making newspaper planters and checking out flower and vegetable seeds.
-Making seed bombs.
Water Festival for 4th Grade
Each year the Water Conservation Program hosts a day-long water festival for grade school children. The theme for 2026 is “Water: Every Hero’s Superpower.”
During the 2025 Water Festival, more than 1400 4th grade students and featured informative exhibits and hands-on activities about hydrology, cultural uses of water, local geography, and environmental impacts.
Photo Galleries
- View Photos from 2025 Water Festival
- View Photos from 2024 Water Festival
- View Photos from the 2023 Water Festival
Where does our water come from?
In-Class learning experience. Contact Molly New at [email protected]. to schedule in the classroom.
Kids Learning Links
Resources:
Outdoor Watering
Rainwater Harvesting (Link)
Water Smart DVD Series (Link)
Tips for Watering Wisely (Link)
Plants for the Desert
Native Plant Society of New Mexico (Link)
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens (Link)
Chihuahuan Desert Plants (Link)
New Mexico’s Interactive Plant List (Link)
Water Saving for the Home
WaterSense Products (Link)
Pool Water Efficiency (Link)
Water Conservation for Home Owners (Link)
Kids Save
Water Conservation – Educators (Link)
WaterSense for Kids (Link)
Additional Resources & Organizations
City of Las Cruces 40-Year Water Development Plan (PDF)
New Mexico 50-Year Water Action Plan (Link)
Dona Ana Soil and Water (Link)
About WaterSense (Link)
Tree New Mexico (Link)
Doña Ana County Extension Master Gardener Program (Link)
Albuquerque Utilities Landscape (Link)
Check out these Conserve Water Las Cruces Videos!
2026 Water Festival Recap
A Day Without Water
Do you take water for granted? You need water to live so could you imagine what would happen if this resource ran dry.
National Night Out 2025
The Water Conservation Program engaged community members at the National Night Out event on August 5, 2025 in downtown Las Cruces. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to remind residents they can conserve water at home. One concept – only showering in the amount of time it takes to sing your favorite song (with the idea popular songs are about a few minutes long.
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 ground water from two 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.
