What’s New
Until the end of April the Office of the State Engineer is taking public comment on the proposed new regulations for domestic wells.
How You Can Help
Please let the State Engineer know you support the proposed regulations of domestic wells.
Background
If New Mexico wants water for future generations we need to manage our state’s most precious resource now. Currently to avoid providing community water systems for new developments, developers are subdividing parcels in a way that allows unmetered wells to be drilled that can use up to 12 times the amount of water that an average household uses.
The Office of the State Engineer approves 6,000 such wells each year because they do not currently have the authority to deny these well permits – even in areas where aquifers are critically depleted such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
NMPIRG and 1000 Friends of New Mexico have worked for years to close this loophole and applaud the new proposed rules, which will give the State Engineer the authority to deny wells where aquifers are critically depleted. More.
