Haaland to Strengthen Water Security, Fix Aging Infrastructure

Albuquerque, N.M. – Citing New Mexico’s unprecedented statewide drought and aging water infrastructure, Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor in New Mexico, has proposed a plan to strengthen the state’s water security. 

Haaland’s plan calls for directing state resources toward repairing aging drinking water systems, ensuring compliance with water quality standards, and reducing water lost to leaking pipes and pumps statewide.

Haaland believes that New Mexicans deserve safe, clean drinking water. That’s why she will fight to:

• Use state resources to repair aging drinking-water systems and cut massive water loss from leaking pipes and pumps.
• Protect federal funding for Tribal water projects.
• Require high-demand industries to report water usage each year accurately.
• Increase resources to monitor the state’s groundwater resources through the Aquifer Mapping and Monitoring Program. 
• Enforce New Mexico’s PFAS and water pollution laws.
• Require companies to develop and execute a robust and practical plan to ensure they don’t harm our water.
• Deliver funds to install water infrastructure in rural New Mexico.

As Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Haaland strengthened New Mexico’s water security by acquiring a $60 million investment for water conservation and drought resilience along the Rio Grande. That initiative addressed a historic drought impacting the Rio Grande. Haaland’s work on the water security plan made it easier to make regional improvements by funding infrastructure repairs, upgrading dams, and capturing stormwater.