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Water Scarcity in New Mexico

Water Scarcity in New Mexico. The Demand for Fresh Water is increasing in New Mexico, but the supply has decreased. We are faced with Global Changes and Drought Conditions that decrease the available water that we do have. Rio Grande Aquifer System.

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Water Scarcity in New Mexico

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  1. Water Scarcity in New Mexico

  2. The Demand for Fresh Water is increasing in New Mexico, but the supply has decreased. We are faced with Global Changes and Drought Conditions that decrease the available water that we do have.

  3. Rio Grande Aquifer System

  4. Water Rights in the Rio Grande Aquifer System Water volume measured from stream gauges at the Headwaters of the Rio Grande becomes the basis of the amount of ground water that will be divided between Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Elephant Butte is a major ground water storage for Southern New Mexico and Texas.

  5. Snow Melt and its affects • Snow melt is important because it provides 50% of the surface water in New Mexico. • Dr. Caiti Steele (NMSU) charts the snow melt through stream gauges in Colorado and Northern New Mexico. • Yearly amounts of Water rights are determined by these measurements. • Dr. Steele’s longitudinal data shows the amount of water from the snow melt has dropped 23% over the decade.

  6. Driest on Record If the runoff from snow melt is less than needed, it effects Agriculture, Wildlife, Ecology, and it’s people. When runoff from the snow melt happens earlier in the year, it effects the amount of water available in New Mexico for Agriculture. A solution to dwindling snow melt runoff is needed. All the water needs in the state can not come from the Rio Grande.

  7. Big Users of Water • Increasing state population • Irrigation in agricultural areas use a large percentage of our states ground water. The decrease in available ground water forces farmers to pull water from the aquifer to meet their agricultural needs • Water loving landscapes Residential areas Golf courses

  8. New Mexico’s Efforts to Save Water • Making different Irrigation choices • Wastewater Treatment Facilities • Water Desalination • Promote water conservation

  9. Irrigation for Agricultural Areas • A large percentage of Water Rights will be used for Farming Irrigation • When farmers/ranchers run out of their water allotment from the Rio Grande they pump from wells which depletes the aquifer. • Some farmers are using methods that do not deplete the water supply as fast: • Alternate row irrigation • Choosing more water efficient crops (Cotton)

  10. Reclaiming Water Larger cities in the state have built and operate water reclamation plants.

  11. Using other than Potable Water for Watering Landscapes Some golf courses are beginning to use reclaimed water as a source for their large water needs.

  12. Research at theTularosa Basin Brackish Desalination Plant in Alamogordo • Another source of drinking water could come from extracting salt from ground water. • At the present time this process in New Mexico is energy intensive and there is no clear way to dispose of the extracted salt or concentrate.

  13. Water Scarcity is a Global Problem • UN states that by the year 2025 • 2 out of 3 people in world will not be near a fresh water source.

  14. Global Fresh Water Availability

  15. Other Resources Journey Santa Fe UN Water for Life Decade - Global Water Scarcity ESPCoR Water Projects - Caiti Steele Caiti's Snowpack ReserviorPowerpoint EPSCoR Water Resources

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