Bernalillo County, NM Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Repair deadline
- 48 hours after notification
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Bernalillo County only
- Alternative
- Shut system off until fixed
- Enforced by
- County manager or designee
- Max penalty
- $300 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
County code bars water waste in unincorporated Bernalillo County; a broken pipe or malfunctioning water system must be fixed within 48 hours of notification or the water shut off until repaired.
No person, entities or properties shall cause or permit water waste. ... Flow resulting from temporary water supply system failures or malfunctions. These failures or malfunctions shall be repaired within 48 hours of notification or the system shut off until repair can be completed;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 30-248 bans water waste on all properties in unincorporated Bernalillo County. A leaking or malfunctioning water-supply system counts as water waste unless the failure is repaired within 48 hours of notification, or the system is shut off until repairs are done. The county manager or a designee enforces the rule (Sec. 30-244); ABCWUA customers cannot be cited twice for the same violation by both the county and the water authority.
Violations & Fines
Water waste violations are punished under the Code's general penalty (Sec. 1-6): a fine up to $300, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, per Sec. 30-243.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my pipe leak isn't fixed within 48 hours?
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico water use rules overview
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