El Paso Water Utilities officials announced Wednesday that water consumption has decreased by 637 million gallons compared to 2011.

Officials said El Pasoans used an average of 134 gallons a day this year, which is about five gallons less than it was in 2011.

"Congratulations and thank you to El Pasoans for once again proving why this community is a worldwide leader in water conservation," said John Balliew, vice president of EPWU. "Living in the Chihuahuan Desert, we each have a responsibility to conserve. The less water we use today, the more we'll have tomorrow. That's why we say 'less is the new more.'"

Balliew said there will still be a need to conserve in 2013 because of droughts in New Mexico and Colorado, which have affected EPWU's reservoirs.

El Paso anticipates a severely reduced river-water supply again in 2013.

Updates on the region's ongoing drought along with resources to help El Pasoans conserve can be found at EPWU's Water Conservation Web site: LessisMoreEP.org