The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee is set to review a revised bill on Saturday aimed at establishing a Strategic Water Supply in New Mexico. The modified legislation focuses on creating funding pathways for brackish water projects across the state, along with essential guardrails and program funding.

House Bill 137 forms a critical part of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 50-Year Water Action Plan. The plan aims to protect New Mexico's limited freshwater resources by treating and incentivizing the use of salty underground water. This initiative supports manufacturing and clean energy needs while preserving community drinking water supplies.

The changes to the bill respond to concerns from lawmakers and stakeholders regarding its initial inclusion of projects involving the reuse of treated produced water, or wastewater from oil and gas production. In response, Rep. Susan Herrera and Sen. George Muñoz, who sponsor the bill, propose removing produced water projects from the program. This removal would prevent the State from brokering partnerships between communities and private industry for produced water treatment and use.

“The Strategic Water Supply is too important to let its produced water provisions be the reason it doesn’t pass,” said Rep. Herrera. “I look forward to engaging with stakeholders so we can revisit produced water legislation in next year’s session.”

Governor Lujan Grisham remains committed to advancing research for produced water treatment despite these changes, recognizing it as a critical tool for ensuring New Mexico’s long-term water security. Safe and effective treatment technologies are already available, as demonstrated at the State of the Science Symposium in June 2024.

Research institutions such as New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will continue exploring solutions for produced water treatment. Meanwhile, the Water Quality Control Commission is finalizing regulations on water reuse that will guide statewide application of these advancements.

The revisions to HB 137 also expand eligibility for brackish water supplies under the Strategic Water Supply program funding while ensuring protections for both water resources and rights owners.

To gain further insight into the purpose and goals of the Strategic Water Supply, a new video has been released today.