Household Use
Household Water Consumption Estimate
Estimating household water has the following reference points:
- STANDARD ADOPTED: In a Shoemaker and Associates Report prepared for Rio Arriba County, Shoemaker & Associates estimated water use in a single family subdivision named Riverbend Meadows in Rio Arriba County. It estimates water use to be approximately 180 gallons per day per household.
- HYDROLOGY REPORT: In the Hydrology Report it is stated that US household use is in the range of 300 gallons per day. The American Water Works reports somewhat more than that.
- CONSERVATIVE USE ESTIMATE: A reference for estimating a conservative use plan is offered by Brad Lancaster in his book "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands" (Volumes One and Two) that were submitted with this Master Plan. Mr. Lancaster's books describe best practices for water catchments and surface water management (aquifer recharge). His estimate for conservative use, including irrigation, was approximately 120 gallons per day per household. Further details available upon request.
Considering the Range
We found the following high and low range.
- HIGH RANGE: American Water Works reports of more than 350 gallons per day per household, provides an upper range that represents much of the County.
- LOW RANGE: The reference cited above, Brad Lancaster, makes the case for as little as 120 gallons per day. Other sources generally consider an efficient range, when using efficient fixtures and taking other reasonable measures, to be in the 150 gallons per day range.
Ranch Infrastructure Standard
The water system will be constructed to provide water at standards used by other local subdivisions, 220 gallons per day, or approximately .25 acre feet of water per household per year.
Conservation Standard
In spite of designing a system to the above capacity, the Conservation Standard, in other words the standard we intend to shoot for in practice where use is concerned, will be the more conservative standard below 150 gallons per day using the strategies below.
Conservation Strategies
The Ranch plans to conserve water and grow its reserves over time using these proven strategies:
- WATER CATCHMENT: This is not a new approach. The Ranch aims to catch a portion of the water needed at the site of each improvement. That simply means catching water on the roof of every barn, house, or shed. We calculate the amounts that can be expected in this page (future link).
- MONITORING: It is natural to be more aware of water consumption when you can see how much is being used and you are able to monitor more closely your consumption. Plans are to include the ability to monitor water supplies and use for a central system and also at the household level. There may be incentives for managing water in the homes efficiently.
- FIXTURES: An obvious way to reduce consumption is to install water efficient fixtures in all improvements. Using efficient fixtures, monitoring and incentives are the means to achieve the efficient household use levels discussed above.
- AQUIFER RECHARGE: This means adopting practices for managing surface water that increase reserves in the underground aquifer or retaining it until it infiltrates.
