Water in Santa Fe
Our Water Sources
In addition to our groundwater, the City relies on two sources of surface water: the Santa Fe River (which mostly depends on melting snow from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains) and the San Juan-Chama Project (which diverts water from the Rio Grande River to the City). The San Juan-Chama Return Flow Pipeline is a proposed 17-mile pipeline that will return reclaimed, treated water collected in the City sewer system back to the Rio Grande to be redistributed to the City. This project will allow the City to stretch our San Juan-Chama water allocation two to three times further than we do currently, allowing groundwater to recharge and increasing resiliency to drought and wildfires. This project will also help Santa Fe to meet growing demand for water in the future.
To learn more, see the City of Santa Fe water management history.
Water Conservation
Planning for the Future
The City of Santa Fe is committed to protecting and conserving water resources for the future. The City and County have initiated a joint science-based and community-informed process to create water resource management plans that in the case of the City will extend out as far as 2100. Planning efforts will be complete by the end of 2026 and will be evaluated, refined and repeated every 10 years. This long term water resources planning effort is in addition to its complementary but more near-term 5-Year Water Conservation and Drought Management Plan.
Timeline for the 5-Year Water Conservation and Drought Management Plan
Water Conservation
City Water Bank
Since 2010, the City Water Bank has directly connected new development projects with available water supply. When new buildings are constructed, there is typically an increase in water demand. The Water Bank requires developers to offset any new demand on the water utility system, which helps the City to maintain sufficient water rights and capacity to meet the increased demand. Considering water resources as our City grows is crucial to developing in a more sustainable way. Learn more about Santa Fe's water system..
Leading by Example: Community Education
For more than 20 years, the City of Santa Fe Water Conservation Office has advocated for water conservation methods and education, conducting extensive outreach to residents. The Passport Program works with students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, as well as high school mentors, to educate youth about recycling and stormwater management. During the annual Water Fiesta at the City’s Convention Center, around 700 local 4th graders rotate through short presentations on diverse water topics ranging from treatment processes to native amphibians. In addition, the Water Conservation Office conducts tours of water infrastructure facilities, including the treatment plant, reservoirs, and watershed, to students and interested community members.
Check out My Water, My Watershed, a youth education partner program with the Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA).