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.