New Mexico Sun

The Los Lunas Village Council has decided to "table indefinitely" the request from Niagara Bottling to increase its water draw from the Albuquerque Basin aquifer. The decision, made on July 28th, comes amidst community concerns about water conservation in a region facing severe drought conditions.

Valencia Water Watchers (VWW), a local advocacy group, expressed cautious optimism about the council's decision but emphasized the need for continued vigilance. They stressed that "the community should have the opportunity to review the Water Rights report that the Village of Los Lunas is waiting on," and highlighted the importance of public involvement in decisions affecting long-term water resources.

This marks the third instance within five weeks where Niagara's request has been postponed by the council. Initially scheduled for discussion on June 23rd, it was delayed due to missing input from "water rights experts." Despite Mayor Griego's initial reluctance, public comments were eventually permitted following persuasion by attorney Del Conroy.

The proposal was again deferred on July 14th for similar reasons before being tabled indefinitely on July 28th. In response to Niagara's ongoing requests, VWW has gathered nearly 3,000 signatures opposing further water allocation to Niagara and continues an online survey targeting Valencia County residents.

Community opposition extends beyond Valencia County. In previous years, residents in Bloomfield, Connecticut protested against a similar agreement with Niagara. More recently, Eau Claire, Wisconsin witnessed rallies against potential water bottling operations by Niagara.

Valencia Water Watchers was established in January 2020 when Niagara first indicated its intention to seek additional water rights. Their efforts include organizing rallies and petitions which previously led to Niagara withdrawing a request in February 2021.

The group remains committed to advocating for sustainable water management practices across Valencia County and beyond.