New Mexico water plan could pipe drinking water from the San Augustin Plains

Augustin Plains Ranch LLC wants to drill more than three dozen wells in the Rio Grande Valley to pump more than 17 billion gallons of groundwater a year.

Aug. 18, 2016

Satellite image of San Augustin Plains, Wikipedia.

ALBUQUERQUE, AUGUST 18, 2016 – The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that plans to bring billions of gallons of water from rural parts of New Mexico to more populated areas will get a public hearing soon.

Augustin Plains Ranch LLC wants to drill more than three dozen wells in the Rio Grande Valley to pump more than 17 billion gallons of groundwater a year to supplement supplies in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Belen, Socorro and other municipalities in Central New Mexico. The company argues that these cities could use a new water source.

The company first applied for a proposal to bring water to parts of the state in 2014, but the State Engineer’s Office rejected the plan. This time, they plan to try again.

A top water official in the state has cleared the way for a public hearing on the proposal.

Read the full story here.