Education and Outreach

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 Fix A Leak Event 2013

Does your toilet make the "phantom flush" noise when no one is in the bathroom?  Do you suspect a leak in your home's water system?

City of Rio Rancho's Water Conservation Office was at Rio Rancho True Value Hardware on Saturday March 16th, 2013 promoting EPA's Fix A Leak Week.  The best part of the event was a woman and daughter who drove up from Albuquerque with their plumbing project to ask our  plumber how to complete their repairs. True Value Hardware is located at 2108 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho.

Ruben Archuleta, city Water Conservation Specialist stared in the commercial developed for New Mexico's 2012 Fix A Leak Week activities.  The commercial promotes checking and replacing leaking toilet flappers. 

See the State of New Mexico website for additional information: www.fixaleaknm.org 

 

Programs
The Water Conservation Office offers the following programs to the public about ways to conserve water supplies. Call (505) 896-8715 for more details or to schedule a program.

Youth
Would your class or group like an interactive and fun presentation?  Water Conservation Office and Environmental Programs can tailor activities to your application, whether it is Girl Scout or Boy Scout badges, a particular unit on water in the classroom, or even just something different and fun.

Science Fairs and Expos
Rio Rancho students participate in the middle school and high school science fairs each year.  The Water Conservation Office supports the scientific endeavors of the students and funds an award “Every Drop Counts”.  This award is for the best display of water conservation, water efficiency or water quality.  “Water education for children makes for a smarter water future for Rio Rancho,” said Marian Wrage, who heads up the city’s Environmental Programs.

The fifth annual “Every Drop Counts” award was just presented to Jessical Cleal for her very timely project called "Growing Capabilities of Grey Water".  Ms. Cleal watered plants with various forms of grey water such as dish water, clothes washing machine water, etc. to determine which kind of used water had the least deleterious effects on plants.

Jessica Cleal from Cleveland High School.

If you are a student or know a student who needs mentoring for the science expos, contact us for assistance and guidance (505) 896-8715.

Rio Rancho Children's Water Festival
Water education at the elementary school level is an important component of the water conservation initiative for the City of Rio Rancho in order to create a sustainable water supply by improving water use efficiency by its citizens, encouraging water management, and promoting water conservation.  Rio Rancho has approximately 1,400 fourth grade students.  Most of these students receive little or no formal water resource education. The Rio Rancho Children’s Water Festival improves the understanding of good water management principles by the students, teachers and parents who participate in this festival.  The 2012 Festival reached 1,357 students, 100% of Rio Rancho fourth grade students and teachers through this annual two-day event.  The next Festival is scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2013 at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The principal focus of the Festival is to educate fourth grade school children about water and its relationship to human and other natural resources in a fun and interactive atmosphere.  The program vision is to:

- Introduce students and teachers to new ideas, options and solutions so they will conserve and protect water for the future,
-Lay the foundation for further learning,
-Reach as many students and teachers as possible

The Festival has been designed specifically to introduce and explain new and unfamiliar water management tools to the present and future water users and managers.  Research concerning water conservation education indicates the targeted group of the Festival, fourth grade students, is ideal for achieving long-term goals.  Through sharing at home and with extended family, the expected 1,400 participants represent an ultimate audience of 10,000 to 15,000 people throughout the Festival program.

Adults
Adult outreach includes:

• Water with the Seasons and the Weather watering guide.
• Xeriscape landscape and water conservation printed materials.
• Water Wise Demonstration Garden next to Esther Bone Memorial Library at 950 Pinetree Road. 
  • The garden is a beautiful, living example of water wise and xeriscape principles and techniques.