A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE WATER TRUST BOARD AND THE OFFICE OF THE STATE
ENGINEER TO COMPILE INFORMATION ON LEAKAGE AND OTHER WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
PROBLEMS OF WATER SYSTEMS AND RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE REMEDIES TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, New Mexico's water is
a precious commodity requiring millions of dollars in expenditures for its
management, regulation and conservation; and
WHEREAS, state law makes waste
of water a crime, and such depletions of water resources could make the state
vulnerable in federal lawsuits; and
WHEREAS, much of the state's water
infrastructure is old and in need of repair, replacement and expansion; and
WHEREAS, many municipal water
utilities are trying to keep up with repairs of leaks and water loss with
inadequate funding; and
WHEREAS, leakages in several
cities attracted significant media attention during this past summer's drought;
and
WHEREAS, improvements in the
state's water delivery systems will require significant sums of money and
cooperation among many different state, local government and, perhaps, federal
agencies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the water trust board and
the office of the state engineer, with the cooperation of municipalities, the
municipal league, water and sanitation districts, mutual domestic water
consumers associations and other interested parties, be requested to compile
information on the extent of leakage and water infrastructure problems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
water trust board and the office of the state engineer make recommendations for
remedies to the appropriate committee of the legislature by December 1, 2003;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the water trust board and to the
state engineer.