HOUSE MEMORIAL 15

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Bill McCamley

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS TO DESIGN A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATEWIDE EFFICIENT RESIDENTIAL WATER USE.

     WHEREAS, with recurrent drought conditions, the need for efficient use of water in New Mexico is a well-recognized fact; and

     WHEREAS, urban water use in New Mexico will rise as the population increases, and the bureau of business and economic research at the university of New Mexico estimates that the population of New Mexico will increase to two million five hundred forty thousand one hundred forty-five by 2020 and three million seven hundred ten thousand eight hundred seventy-five by 2060, with the fastest-growing regions in and around the urban centers along the middle and lower Rio Grande; and

     WHEREAS, municipalities with populations over fifty-five thousand have actively worked to enhance water conservation efforts and have developed aggressive conservation programs resulting in significant water savings already achieved by these water providers; and

     WHEREAS, efficient residential water use helps to mitigate the effects of drought and lessens the depletion of existing water sources and dependency on the development of new water sources, in addition to lowering the water, sewer and energy bills of the residential user, thus reducing water utility operating costs; and

     WHEREAS, while a statewide water planning effort was initiated by the legislature in the 2003 regular legislative session, comprehensive and consistent municipal efficient water-use strategies have yet to be required;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that officials from the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority and the cities of Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe be requested to collaboratively design a series of recommendations for efficient water use and that they present their recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committee by August 2016; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the state engineer, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority and the city managers of the cities of Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe.

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