Anita Gonzalez House District 70 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
On June 27, the Trump Administration initiated steps to repeal the Clean Water Rule. This action could potentially affect the drinking water sources for over 117 million Americans and increase risks to streams and wetlands that filter pollution and provide habitats for wildlife.
Rachel Conn, Projects Director for Amigos Bravos, a New Mexico-based water protection organization, expressed concern: “The Trump Administration has once again proved it only cares about one thing – putting polluters first. Repealing the Clean Water Rule puts the drinking water for hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans at risk.” She emphasized that the rule serves as "a commonsense safeguard" essential for irrigation, clean drinking water, and wildlife habitats in New Mexico.
The federal Clean Water Act of 1972 aimed to improve water quality across the United States by mandating wastewater treatment before discharge into rivers. However, Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 created uncertainty regarding protections under this act, especially for waters that flow intermittently or are isolated. In response, the EPA finalized the Clean Water Rule in August 2015 to clarify protections for these waters.
Conn noted that New Mexico lacks a state regulatory framework to manage discharges into its waterways. Thus, without federal protections, local waters could be vulnerable: “This rulemaking is especially harmful to New Mexico because...when federal protections are removed, New Mexico’s waters are left high and dry.”
Ephemeral and intermittent waters in New Mexico support 20% of its animal species. The EPA estimates that around 280,000 residents rely on these sources for drinking water. Conn highlighted their importance: “Protecting water quality in small drainages in New Mexico is critically important for New Mexico’s communities and wildlife.”
