usinesses in the southwestern states understand the value of the region's water resources better than most. After all, they operate in a desert and cannot count on rainfall to replenish reservoirs. In New Mexico, bordering states share limited resources, such as Rocky Mountain snow runoff, but is that enough to sustain new industry and higher population growth in the years ahead? It is if water conservation measures are taken seriously and infrastructure is put in place to meet future demand.
Until now, the Albuquerque area got by on an underground aquifer, but that supply will last only so long. Agreements have been in place for decades to draw water from the Colorado River, and construction is now under way to bring that water to town for public consumption.
"Businesses do look at water as an issue when they are locating or relocating — I have been in lots of those discussions over the past 10 years," says John Stomp, water resources division manager at the City of Albuquerque. "But we have been blessed in Albuquerque with one of the most prolific aquifers in the world in terms of size, availability and quality of water. But that aquifer is being depleted because of our overdrafting," he points out. "So we are transitioning to surface water and reuse water. We will use the aquifer for droughts and for peak times."
The transition involves a $375-million project to divert Colorado River water through the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project (www.sjcdrinkingwater.org). "Combined with our conservation efforts, which are among the most successful in the country, if not the world, we have a stable water program," says Stomp.
The city has reduced water usage by 33 percent since 1995 despite a steady increase in the number of residential and commercial accounts (see chart). "Our goal is to use surface water when it's available and when it's not we'll go back to the aquifer. We will continue to balance that usage and protect the aquifer for the long term."
