If water use was a Santa Fe sport where the lowest guzzler scored points, the old Bellamah neighborhood could lord it over the Sol y Lomas subdivision.

In the last decade, Bellamah residents on average dropped their water use per home from 78,204 gallons a year (about a fourth of an acre-foot) to 52,136 gallons, according to a new draft water study released this week by the city's Sangre de Cristo Water Division.

Sol y Lomas, like Bellamah built in the 1960s and '70s, but with larger homes, averages 81,462 gallons per home. That's a decline in water use from a decade ago, but not good enough to pass Bellamah on the scoreboard.

The draft report, presented to the city Public Utilities Committee on Wednesday, looked at changes in Santa Fe water use by residents, businesses and community sites such as parks. Overall, Santa Fe has made progress in conserving water. Low-flow toilets, heightened consumer awareness and some differences in how water use was calculated contributed to the decline in water use, the report said.

Santa Fe residents used 31 percent less water in 2008 than they did a decade earlier. Homes on larger lots continued to use the most water. Whether that's because of more landscaping, more bathrooms and saunas, or more leaks needs more study, according to Amanda King, who coordinated the report.

Most apartment complexes lowered their water use in the last decade, but a few increased use.

Annual water use at Dos Santos Condominiums on Miguel Chavez Road dropped by more than half, from .23 acre-feet per unit to .09 acre feet. Scott Eastwood, the complex's office manager, said he thinks a lot of the decrease occurred after the former apartment complex became privately owned condominiums, complete with an owner's association. "I think it comes from the apartment company mind-set as opposed to when owners take responsibility (for using less water)," Eastwood said.

In addition, the complex took out old landscaping, replaced worn sprinklers and removed non-native trees, he said.

Among eight grocery stores the water division looked at, Smith's on Cerrillos had the lowest water use, Albertsons on Zafarano Drive had the biggest decline in use, and Whole Foods had the highest water use per 10,000 square feet. Some of that difference may be linked to the amount of fresh food prepared daily at Whole Foods, the report said. Whole Foods did not respond to a call seeking more information.

Full-service restaurants used half the water in 2008 that they did in 1998, while full-service hotels reduced the water use per room by 58 percent.

Water use increased at gas stations and car washes in the study.

Among five city parks reviewed, only Patrick Smith Park increased water use. Salvador Perez Park guzzled 63 percent less water after one of the soccer fields was replaced with artificial turf.

City staff recommended closer attention to higher water users. King said one continuing problem might be undetected leaks while homeowners are out of town. Improved methods for collecting and processing water data also are needed.

Data collected for the study will help the city track water-use trends and develop water budgets for new development.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.