The Public Service Board on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to end Stage 2 water restrictions May 30 -- more than two weeks ahead of time -- because conservation has been successful.

El Paso Water Utilities General Manager Ed Archuleta told the board that water use had been cut substantially from a year ago. April use was down 23.9 percent compared with April 2002, he said, and it was down 19.3 percent in the first 12 days of May compared with the same time period in 2002.

Archuleta said the utility's Stage 2 conservation efforts, which began April 1, had been successful across the board, including at schools, parks and residential users. Stage 2 water restrictions, which curtailed most outdoor watering to one day a week, were scheduled to end June 17. Stage 1 allows watering three days a week.

"We are cautiously optimistic about staying in Stage 1 (restrictions) the rest of the summer," Archuleta told the board. He said that on May 27 he would ask the City Council to approve a return to Stage 1 as long as Elephant Butte releases remain on track.

Dave Brosman, the utility's chief operations officer, said July would be a critical month. He told the PSB that continued conservation would be necessary to keep El Paso from going back to Stage 2 this summer.

For one customer in the utility's lobby -- covered with signs from youngsters urging water conservation -- the end of the restrictions is good.

"I hope they end them," said Westsider Elsa Escobar, still upset over restrictions that have left her yard "bad" and "plants dead." "We do pay for the water. We should be able to use it."


Charles K. Wilson may be reached at cwilson@elpasotimes.com