IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN TAOS

HM045

HOUSE MEMORIAL 45

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

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph L. Sanchez

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 HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it 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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