NM city launches conservation effort

August 2009

U.S. Water News Online

RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Wireless irrigation control units have been installed on all of Rio Rancho's parks and recreational facilities as part of a new water conservation initiative.

The control units will allow the city to delay or stop watering cycles when its windy or raining by simply calling a phone number and entering a code.

City Councilor Steve Shaw says the new equipment allows the city to conserve its most precious natural resource and reduce irrigation costs.

The city purchased 55 irrigation control units from Albuquerque-based Contact Wireless. The equipment supplied by the company was developed through a $500,000 award from Gov. Bill Richardson's Water Innovation Fund.