UNM ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT WATER USERS SURVEY FOR CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE

November 10, 2003

UNM ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT WATER USERS SURVEY FOR CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE

The University of New Mexico Economics Department has teamed up with the City of Albuquerque to conduct a water users survey on water priorities and values related to water use in the city.

Under the direction of UNM Professors Janie Chermak and Kate Krause, the department will create a survey designed for public input into policies and will help the council to prioritize water and water conservation issues. The survey will be sent to city users in their water bills. When the surveys are returned, the department will analyze the data and prepare a report for the city.

“We thought that conducting this survey would be a good way to find out from the citizens what their water policy preferences and priorities are,” said Krause. “We think if residents had an opportunity to express their opinions that they might be more willing to support some type of holistic water conservation plan. We’re trying to figure out what kind of water policies the citizens of Albuquerque might support.”

The resolution reads in part: ‘directing the Public Works department to cooperate with and provide support to the University of New Mexico Department of Economics to design and conduct a survey of
water users in the city; encouraging input from the city water users on priorities and values related to
water use in the city; providing for response confidentiality and use of collected data; requiring a report; and designating a funding source.’

“No one can question the credentials of the UNM Economics department to be the best ones to conduct the survey,” said Miguel Gomez, District 1 city councilor, who presented the resolution that passed on a 6-0 vote at a recent city council meeting.

“This will allow rate payers to communicate with the government,” said Greg Payne, District 8 city councilor, District 8.

As part of the agreement, the city will provide a $12,000 stipend for a UNM graduate student to assist with the collection and analysis of acquired data.

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