As the sun begins to set on another scorching day in New Mexico, I can’t help but think about the fragility of our most precious resource – water. In a state where every drop counts, we find ourselves facing a daunting reality: our water supply is under siege, threatened by the relentless march of climate change, aging infrastructure, and emerging contaminants. But fear not, my fellow New Mexicans, for we are a resilient bunch, and we’re about to embark on a journey to secure our water future.
Weathering the Storm: Adapting to a Drier Future
The science is clear – by the time the Class of 2024 high school graduates reach retirement age, New Mexico will have 25% less water than we do today. Yikes, I know. Precipitation will be more variable and extreme, snowpack runoff and aquifer recharge will decline, and higher temperatures will parch our landscapes, leading to more devastating wildfires and increased erosion. It’s a troubling forecast, but we’re not going to let it catch us off guard.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has a plan, and it’s a doozy. We’re drawing on New Mexico’s rich heritage of forward-thinking water management, harnessing the expertise of water stewards across our diverse state, and leveraging the cutting-edge innovation of our renowned research institutions. Together, we’re going to tackle this challenge head-on, using science, technology, and a healthy dose of grit to ensure that New Mexicans have clean water now and into the future.
Plugging the Leaks: Conserving Every Drop
One of the key strategies in our water security plan is to address the alarming rates of water loss across our public drinking water systems. Can you believe that some of our systems are losing up to 70% of their treated water due to leaks and breaks in the aging infrastructure? That’s like filling up a swimming pool, only to have it drain out through a giant hole in the bottom. Yikes!
But fear not, we have a plan to fix these leaky pipes and get every drop of water where it needs to go. We’re deploying innovative technology and remote sensing techniques to inventory the state’s water systems, and then we’re going to prioritize repairs and replacements to stop the hemorrhage. By 2040, we aim to reduce statewide water loss by a whopping 25%, saving municipalities and ratepayers millions of dollars while preserving our precious water resources.
Tapping into New Sources: Desalination and Produced Water
But conservation alone won’t be enough to quench our thirst. We need to get creative and unlock new sources of water to secure our future. That’s why New Mexico is pioneering a bold new initiative – the State Strategic Water Supply. Through this program, we’re offering advanced market commitments to spur private investment in desalination and produced water treatment facilities.
Imagine turning brackish groundwater and oil and gas wastewater into valuable resources! By reducing the risk for private companies, we’re catalyzing a wave of innovation that will provide up to 100,000 acre-feet of new water by 2028 and 50,000 acre-feet of treated brackish water by 2035. That’s enough to fill more than 60,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, folks! And the best part? We’ll be able to use this water for everything from clean energy production to aquifer recharge, all while preserving our dwindling freshwater supplies.
Cleaning Up Our Act: Protecting Water Quality
But securing our water supply isn’t just about quantity – we also need to safeguard the quality. That’s why we’re taking a two-pronged approach to water quality: cleaning up legacy contamination and preventing new sources of pollution.
First, we’re tackling the skeletons in our closet – the Superfund sites, the abandoned uranium mines, and the countless other pollutant plumes that have been plaguing our communities for far too long. We’re developing a comprehensive dashboard to track the status and estimated costs of cleanup, and we’re launching a state-funded program to remediate those neglected sites that don’t qualify for federal assistance.
And to prevent future contamination, we’re finally taking the reins on surface water discharge permitting. That’s right, folks – New Mexico is stepping up to the plate and becoming the 47th state to administer its own Clean Water Act program. No more relying on our friends in Texas to write and enforce these permits. We’re going to ensure that our rivers, lakes, and streams are protected from pollution, and that communities and ecosystems can thrive.
Restoring Our Watersheds: Defending Against Wildfire and Erosion
But our water security efforts don’t stop there. We’re also focusing on the critical task of restoring our watersheds, the lifeblood of our surface water supplies. The record-breaking wildfires of 2022 made it painfully clear how devastating these blazes can be for our municipal water sources and irrigation infrastructure.
That’s why we’re ramping up our investment in wildfire-risk reduction projects across the state. Through mechanical thinning, responsible prescribed burning, and strategic reforestation, we’re going to protect the forested watersheds that provide the bulk of our surface water. And we’re not just talking about a few trees here and there – by 2035, we’re aiming to restore and reduce wildfire risk on a staggering 300,000 acres annually, including 140,000 acres on state and private lands. That’s the equivalent of more than 225,000 football fields, folks!
A Future of Resilience and Opportunity
As I gaze out at the sun-drenched landscape, I can’t help but feel a sense of determination and pride. We’re not just weathering the storm, my friends – we’re building a future of resilience and opportunity. By conserving every drop, tapping into new water sources, cleaning up our act, and restoring our watersheds, we’re securing our water supply and paving the way for a thriving economy, a vibrant agricultural sector, and healthy ecosystems.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. Together, we’re going to write the next chapter in New Mexico’s water story, one that ensures our communities, our farms, and our natural wonders have the water they need to thrive. And who knows, maybe we’ll even have a little fun along the way. After all, what’s more exciting than saving the world, one drop at a time?
Inland Waters Inc. is proud to be a partner in this vital effort, providing innovative water treatment solutions and emergency protocols to help our state weather the challenges ahead. So, let’s get to it, New Mexico – the future of our water supply is in our hands.
