Portales residents weigh in on water use restrictions at meeting

Nearly 50 city and county residents crowded into Tuesday night’s Portales City Council meeting, eager to hear updates on water use reduction efforts and to learn whether restrictions will continue within city limits.

City Manager Sarah Austin told the council and the audience the water reduction efforts are a “multidimensional project.” She said the issue cannot be solved with a single solution and will require a lot of effort and time from everyone involved.

She said the city has decreased in usage since last year by 20% because of community water conservation efforts regarding Stage 3 water restrictions, which is a seven foot drop in water since the previous City Manager.

The City’s wellfield, which includes 48 wells, has produced about 2,3000 gallons per minute (gpm), Austin said.

“It is enough to sustain what we need but not enough for extensive use,” Austin said.

A 2022 report indicated the “saturated thickness” – measured from the top of the water table underground to the bottom of the pool -- has dropped from 140 feet in 1970 to 28 feet today. As a result, the yield dropped from over 600 gpm to 54 gpm today.“

Some residents favored Austin’s comments at the meeting, addressing in the public hearing that the water restriction shouldn’t be lifted just yet. Others favored a search for alternative conservation efforts such as gray water initiatives, xeriscaping or other efforts.

Former Portales City Manager Sammy Standefer urged the city commission to not lift the bans on the water usage within the city during the public comment section.

“It’s very important we conserve what we have and look for new ways and diversify our water system to generate this water… This problem isn’t any one person’s problem, I can’t solve this by myself and neither can you (the city council). The way we have to solve our problems is that we have to work together,” Standefer said.

He said the city officials, staff and the community have to unite together in order to make proper change. It is the local leaders’ responsibility to educate the public of the severity of the water issue, said Standefer.

Austin said Tuesday’s groundbreaking for the Ute Water Project is “a piece of the puzzle for the future of our water,” as it will bring in a replenishing water source for the community.

As for plans to form a “gray water” reuse system in the city, Austin said the city currently has 19 fire hydrants that can produce 15 million gallons of fire suppression. She said the city has been working with the Dairy Farmers of America to capture their wastewater as the city continues to repair its own tanks to hold the water.

“We are entertaining ideas with businesses to come into our city and use the reuse water. At this time, the state has only approved reuse water for fire suppression, watering our parks, and dust control for construction companies,” Austin said.

The village of Cloudcroft has worked for over 30 years toward using reuse water for potable water and after many years and much expense, the city has been unable to achieve that goal, Austin said.

Other plans the city is working on for water production are property acquisition, wellfield expansion and water storage, said Austin.

“We have a notice of intent to the (state) Water Trust Board to ask for $80 million in funding for these projects,” she said.

Currently, she said, the trust board only pays up to $20 million in a grant and the match “could be from 10-20% depending on our household median,” Austin added.

“These projects will have to be done in phases, subject to funding,” Austin said.

She said the city will continue to work towards water conservation efforts with the surrounding communities.

Commissioner Veronica Cordova said she understands that everyone is eager to leave Stage 3 restrictions, however, she said, it it is not as simple as it may seem.

“If we bring everybody off fast, then everybody is going to start watering real fast and that will start a toll on our wellfields again. We all have to work together, all of our entities come together to get that done,” Cordova said.

Cordova even encouraged the community to attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Ashley Outlet, 300 S. Avenue C, Portales, to discuss alternative ideas for water conservation.

On other matters at Tuesday’s meeting:

• City council unanimously approved for the Portales Area Transit System (PATS) to apply for funding assistance from the the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the fiscal 2025. PATS requested a local match of $127,144.20, with the state portion $176,758.

• The Portales Airport received approval from the council to accept an $89,092 grant from the FAA for navigational improvements.

• The Portales Police Department’s request to enter into a contract with NOVOA Global for speed cameras was approved by the council on a 6-to-3 vote.

• The Portales Senior Center and Community Service Center’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan was unanimously approved by the council. Each approval was preceded by a public hearing in which no comments were offered.

• The council gave unanimous approval to Councilor Daniel Boan’s proposal to move public comment to the beginning of the city council meetings.

• An executive session was held at the end of the meeting regarding personnel matters involving Austin and Public Utilities Director John DeSha. No action was taken after the session.