According to an article in the Valencia County News Bulletin, the City of Belen adopted an ordinance prohibiting the waste of water.  The ordinance defines restrictions for watering as well as penalties for violations that range from verbal warnings to monetary fines.

Mayor Ronnie Torres said the council has been looking at adopting the ordinance for quite some time, and it's geared toward educating people how to water their yards so that water is not running down the street.

Joseph Quintana, regional planning manager of the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) wrote the ordinance as part of a water conservation plan that's aimed at preserving water for future generations.

Read the full article online here.