The New Mexico Energy Policy Symposium, held on September 12 and 13 in Española, brought together state leaders, experts, and community members to discuss pressing energy and water issues. One of the most noteworthy panels focused on “Integrating Water & Energy Strategies in NM.”
The discussion centered on the potential of “non-traditional” water resources, particularly treated brackish and produced water, to address the state’s water scarcity challenges. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement in December 2023 to allocate $500 million for a strategic water supply initiative has sparked significant debate among constituents, highlighting the complexities of water management in NM.
The Governor’s initiative is based on findings that the state has substantial aquifers of salty-brackish water – estimated at two to four billion acre-feet – that require treatment for human and agricultural use. A proposed brackish water treatment plant, capable of producing 25 million gallons per day, could generate up to 27,900 acre-feet of potable water annually, an amount that would cover 70% of the annual consumptive water use in the Albuquerque area.
Panel moderator, Representative Susan Herrera, acknowledged the emotional weight of the water issue, “This has gotten so emotional that people can’t even talk about it. Yet, we have to have this conversation.” She urged participants to share their perspectives on the strategic water plan.
Mike Hightower, a former engineer at Sandia National Laboratory and a member of the NM Produced Water Research Consortium, emphasized the potential of non-traditional water sources. He explained the differences between shallow and deep brackish water, noting that the use of deeper brackish water is less susceptible to having impacts on fresh water, and the use of ‘produced water’ sources at 5,000 – 8,000 feet below the surface won’t affect freshwater supplies.
The Consortium is currently exploring the integration of desalination technologies with the treatment of produced water from the San Juan and Permian Basins. To date, they have initiated ten to twelve pilot tests separating oil and salinity from produced water, effectively meeting state water quality standards for agricultural and industrial use.
He added that desalination of non-traditional water requires energy, and it can easily use renewable energy such as wind energy at night for pumping and treating water when it would otherwise be wasted.
One of the most promising aspects of this initiative is the plan to add treated water to the Rio Grande or Pecos Rivers at the state line to satisfy the state’s river water supply compact requirements with Texas.
By using this treated water, northern NM will retain more of its snowmelt for acequias and river use, allowing for increased freshwater availability. Towns along the Rio Grande basin will also benefit from the increased local freshwater supply.
However, not all participants were fully convinced. Paula Garcia, Director of the NM Acequia Association, raised concerns about the legal framework governing non-traditional water use. “The statute is not well defined,” she stated, referencing the constitutional laws that govern traditional water sources, protecting tribal water rights being the most senior, and acequia water being second most senior. Garcia called for further clarity in the regulatory framework.
She acknowledged the benefits of using produced water in the oil fields, which reduces the demand for fresh water from the nearby community water-districts where it can be used for their agriculture.
Former NM State Engineer Mike Hammond praised the oil and gas industry for their shift from freshwater to produced water, now accounting for 70 percent of their usage.
He encouraged further collaboration and open dialogue around this issue, stressing the importance of exploring all available resources while investing in innovative solutions like hydrogen production and geological research.
Hammond emphasized, “this needs to be worked out in a collaborative and thoughtful way.”
