The University of New Mexico's (UNM) Utility Services has earned distinguished recognition from Industrial Water Engineering (IWE), receiving the "Impact on Water, Efficiency, and the Environment" (IWEE) award. The award celebrates the department’s commitment to sustainable practices and operational innovation, highlighted by a recent project at the Ford Utilities Center that now conserves 2.8 million gallons of water annually, which is comparable to 250 average residential households’ annual water usage.
The award was presented in recognition of the team’s success in optimizing sample coolers at the Ford Utilities Center. The team has effectively reduced water consumption by utilizing process cooling water (PCW) instead of traditional domestic water while maintaining safety and operational integrity. Water is now reused more efficiently within the loop through this newly implemented system, significantly contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
In their award letter, IWE highlighted the collaborative effort that made this achievement possible: “This project required coordination between the water department, plant engineer, and UNM Utility Services… This project required dedication and teamwork to ensure its success, and we are thankful to everyone who had a hand in this achievement. The performance improvement and water savings are a testament to The University of New Mexico's commitment to business and performance improvement.”
David Thomas, Water Supervisor for UNM Utility Services, said, “With the support of all at Utility Services, we can make changes that benefit the whole campus and our world. We have plans to improve more within Utility Services."
The project is rooted in UNM’s 2040 Goals, specifically Goal Four: Sustainability, fostering sustainability and resource efficiency across campus. For over a century, UNM has provided reliable water services to its community, with the campus delivering approximately 270 million gallons of water from its domestic water system annually. With this recognition, UNM continues to demonstrate how innovative thinking and strategic partnerships can drive both environmental impact and cost savings.
UNM Utility Services oversees the management and distribution of critical utilities across campus, ensuring a comfortable and efficient environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. The department’s scope includes electricity, heating steam, chilled water, domestic water, and compressed air systems, with a dedication to sustainability and operational excellence.
Industrial Water Engineering (IWE) has been a leader in providing specialized water treatment solutions since 1980. Serving clients across commercial and industrial sectors, IWE is known for its customized, high-quality service and team of experts, which has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in recent years. With locations in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, IWE supports sustainable practices and operational success.