New Mexico relies on both groundwater and surface water sources, but about 87 percent of New Mexico’s public water supply comes from ground water. No other southwestern state gets such a large percentage of its domestic water from groundwater sources.
Where in New Mexico has the most water?
Elephant Butte Lake, located in southern New Mexico, is the state’s largest lake and most popular spot for enjoying the water.
Will nm run out of water?
“It could be 100 years, or 80 years, or 60 years — we’ve got a limited amount of water,” says Dave DuBois, New Mexico’s state climatologist. “We’ve got these long horizons, but that doesn’t mean we need to blow through that and then figure out what to do.”
What are the two main sources of drinking water in NM?
Drinking water comes from two basics sources: surface water and ground water. These water sources are linked through the hydrologic cycle. Initially, all of New Mexico’s water comes from precipitation, and the principal constraint on our water supply is climate. Most of New Mexico is a desert.
What uses the majority of water in New Mexico?
Ground water makes up nearly half of the total water annually withdrawn for all uses in New Mexico, including agriculture and industry, and is the only practicable source of water in many areas of the state.
How deep is the aquifer in New Mexico?
at least 6,000 feet.
Where does Santa Fe get its drinking water?
Santa Fe’s water sources are the Rio Grande, a few groundwater wells, and two reservoirs within the Santa Fe National Forest. The reservoirs make up one-third of Santa Fe’s water supply.
Does Santa Fe have a water problem?
In summarizing Santa Fe’s water legacy, officials often point to one statistic: Since 1995 the population of the City of Santa Fe has increased by 25%, but the total amount of water consumed has decreased by 33%. They say their conservation efforts have paid off.
Where does Albuquerque get its drinking water?
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County rely on groundwater from the Santa Fe Group Aquifer and surface water from the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project. Groundwater wells combine with the San Juan-Chama project to produce about 32 billion gallons of drinking water for the Water Authority’s service area every year.
Where does Taos get its water?
In Taos County, ground water generally is unconfined and moves toward the Rio Grande or perennial streams. Water quality is good except in some areas where water has high values of specific conductance and hardness and contains high concentrations of dissolved solids and fluoride.
Why can’t you drink the water in New Mexico?
High Levels Of Arsenic In Albuquerque Tap Water
Arsenic is a toxic metal that is known to cause cancer and other health issues. Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself.
Does New Mexico have water problems?
New Mexico also has long periods of drought and inconsistent precipitation, so relying on surface water can lead to shortages as well. Water withdrawals from New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico hav e greatly reduced the volume of the Rio Grande ov er the past 50 years.
How much does it cost to drill a water well in New Mexico?
Drilling a residential water well costs $25 to $65 per foot or $3,750 to $15,300 on average for a complete system and installation. Prices include the drilling, a pump, casing, wiring, and more. Total costs largely depend on the depth drilled and the well’s diameter.
Can you drill a water well in New Mexico?
It is illegal to drill a water well in New Mexico if you are not a licensed well driller. While you are allowed to repair and maintain the pump on your own well, you must hire a licensed well driller to drill and construct the initial structure.
Who owns the water in New Mexico?
New Mexico law has five basic tenets: All the water in the state belongs to the public.
Does New Mexico get water from Lake Mead?
Lake Mead and Lake Powell upstream are the largest human-made reservoirs in the U.S., part of a system that provides water to more than 40 million people, tribes, agriculture and industry in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and across the southern border in Mexico.
How deep is the average well in New Mexico?
100 to 800 feet deep
Most of those are domestic wells; the typical well is about five inches in diameter and 100 to 800 feet deep, with a submersible pump at the bottom.
What is New Mexico’s most vital resource?
The most precious natural resource in New Mexico is water, and its conservation has been a priority. Under Spanish and Mexican rule some irrigation was practiced in the Rio Grande Valley, but large-scale methods were not used until modern times.
Can you drill a well in Albuquerque?
Water Well Drilling Services
Murray Drilling Company has drilled over 2500 wells in the Albuquerque area; specializing in North Albuquerque Acres, Corrales, Rio Rancho, Placitas, the North Valley, Bernalillo and Algodones.
Does New Mexico get water from the Colorado River?
As it stands, New Mexico is entitled to 11.25 percent of the annual water allocation from the Colorado River or 7.5 million acre-feet through the San Juan-Chama project.
Can you drink the tap water in Santa Fe?
“The report details the monitoring and source water protection that is performed to ensure that the City of Santa Fe’s water supply is safe to drink and meets all state and federal drinking water standards,” said Alex Puglisi, Environmental Compliance Officer, for the Public Utilities Department.