Santa Fe has four water supply sources, two of which are surface water supplies, the Santa Fe River and Rio Grande. Both of these rivers are reliant upon mountain snow-pack for their annual flows. Each year, the amount of snowfall accumulated within a watershed will largely determine how much water will be flowing in the rivers during the spring run-off.
Although the Sangre de Cristo mountains have experienced substantial snow accumulations this winter, it’s important to keep in mind that Santa Fe sits within a high desert environment characterized by highly variable precipitation from year to year. So regardless of how much snow the City Different receives this season, water conservation is a way of life here. Rain, snow or shine, it’s important that we continue to practice water conservation year-round.
To learn more about the City’s water supply sources and understand where your water comes from, visit our Water Supply Sources page.