SENATE MEMORIAL 11

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales and James G. Townsend

and Linda M. Trujillo

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER FOR THE FUTURE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN TAOS COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO AND REQUESTING THE WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION TO HEAR THE PETITION FROM TAOS COUNTY.

 

     WHEREAS, the supply of freshwater in New Mexico that is available for use by acequias, Indian nations, tribes and pueblos, consumers, agriculture, industry, renewable energy and economic development and for delivery to Texas is expected to diminish significantly over the next decade; and

     WHEREAS, the Produced Water Act, passed in 2019, called for the water quality control commission to adopt rules relating to the use of treated produced water; and

     WHEREAS, the governor's fifty-year water action plan specifically calls for the adoption of preliminary water reuse rules to create a consistent and science-based regulatory program for the treatment and reuse of produced water outside of the oil and gas sector; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the opportunity to lead the country in artificial intelligence and quantum computing technology and to develop environmentally responsible models for data center development for economic diversification; and

     WHEREAS, the growth of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and related technology requires energy and water resources; and

     WHEREAS, data centers supporting the use of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and conventional computing should be constructed in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner that will not negatively impact New Mexico's freshwater resources or negatively impact electricity use in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the scientific evidence is increasingly clear that produced water can be effectively treated for beneficial reuse as demonstrated by current and planned treatment and reuse of produced water in California and Texas; and

     WHEREAS, using produced water rather than freshwater to meet the water demand from data centers will safeguard New Mexico's freshwater resources; and

     WHEREAS, rural communities in Taos county and throughout the state have demonstrated admirable leadership in protecting freshwater resources but continue to face an uphill battle; and

     WHEREAS, a petition for a rule allowing for the reuse of treated produced water for industrial uses and delivery to Texas is being developed by a resident of Questa in Taos county; and

     WHEREAS, time is of the essence for the water quality control commission to hear this petition once it has been submitted and to promulgate rules enabling the beneficial reuse of treated produced water;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the senate be requested to affirm the scientific evidence enabling the beneficial reuse of treated produced water and the importance of produced water as an asset for economic development, reducing poverty in rural communities and protecting freshwater resources in Taos county and throughout the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the water quality control commission be requested to consider the scientific evidence relating to the beneficial reuse of treated produced water and the petition from Taos county within ninety days of receipt of the petition and that any hearings held in relation to the petition be held in Questa; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of environment, the secretary of economic development, the chair of the water quality control commission, the state engineer, the chair of the interstate stream commission, the director of the Questa economic development fund, the mayor of the village of Questa and the members of the board of county commissioners of Taos county.

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