UNM may waste less water, but it still wastes water

Editor,

The Daily Lobo piece, “PPD: We are not ‘water wasters,” implies that UNM’s water use need not be scrutinized by environmentally conscious people.  

In fact, UNM’s thirst has decreased over the last 20 years, so we should be celebrating, right? I think we should postpone the party for the moment and try to address water consumption through a different lens.

It is a common tactic of any lobbyist or proponent of something to ameliorate the perception of his/her own cause by citing improvement. How can it be criticized if it is improving, trying to be better?  

This would be like saying that the War in Afghanistan progressed positively from August to September 2010, killing 59 NATO troops in September — 20 fewer than the 79 dead in August. Fifty-nine dead — what an improvement.
The first impression I got from the piece is that UNM wastes less water than it was wasting in 1993. Therefore, a high-desert campus’ water consumption should not be a concern.

Next was an unfortunate quote from Bruce Milne, the director of Sustainability Studies Program.  

Without the provided label, one might think he is the director of recruitment or perhaps the business school. Of course, we all know why UNM is heavily watered: to attract students by constructing an oasis in the middle of an arid climate. I admit it probably is a good recruitment tool, but it is unsettling to hear this from someone leading the charge of sustainability on campus.

I am tired of seeing water-saturated grass areas overflowing onto sidewalks and sprinklers spraying ineffectively. Also, as a bright point in the piece suggested, there seems to be insufficient communication or action when considering the rain. When it rains all day and stops in the evening, someone needs to get the message to shut off the sprinklers for the night.

This excessive and inefficient water use problem is not unique to UNM. All of Albuquerque lives in a dream world where water seems to regenerate at an equal rate to our residents’ consumption.  
This is not the case.  
UNM has a chance to become a symbol of progress and environmental consciousness by seriously addressing water issues now. The alternative is to ignore water use and contribute to a premature world battle for water rights.

Kevin Marsh
UNM alumnus