Water system first phase nears completion

Staff writer

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The first phase of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System will be nearly completed by Saturday, officials said.

The completion of the Ute Lake water intake station was announced Thursday morning during the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority board meeting at the Memorial Building in Portales.

ENMWUA chairperson Gayla Brumfield said board members will take a tour of the intake station Jan. 13.

Brumfield said the next phase, which is still awaiting funding and will cost about $20 million, is building a pipeline from the pump station to Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis.

Brumfield said money for the pipeline will be acquired from the New Mexico Water Trust Board, community fees and federal funds that the board is working to secure through the Bureau of Reclamation.

The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System project looks to provide Grady, Texico, Melrose, CAFB, Portales, Clovis and Elida with water from Ute Lake.

The Ute Water Project is expected to cost $550 million.

The following also took place during Thursday morning’s ENMWUA meeting:

Board members approved a motion to terminate a contract with Occam Consulting Engineers, Inc. on Dec. 31. Occam provided management for ENMWUA and will no longer be needed when the board hires an executive director. Brumfield said the executive director position will be advertised beginning in January.

Approved an amendment to the CH2M HILL contract. CH2M HILL will provide interim management services for ENMWUA until an executive director is hired, according to Brumfield.

Approved the continuation of a contract with Thompson Consulting.

Approved the continuation of a contract with Capital Consultants.

Approved the ENMWUA Water Conservation Plan. The plan addresses how ENMWUA will protect its water reservoir and keep it environmentally maintained.