Construction is slightly more than halfway complete for the Texico Lateral segment of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS). This HDPE high-density, 8-inch polyethylene pipeline section will span 4.2 miles and will transfer water through EPCOR’s distributions system in Clovis connecting at the Clovis Regional Airport near the intersection of NM State Road…

The town of Elida, located in Roosevelt County, is one of five member communities in the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA). As part of the Eastern New Mexico Rural water System, a new 4-inch lateral pipeline approximately 30 miles in length is being designed, and when constructed will deliver potable water to the…

The first completed section of the ENMRWS was the Raw Water Intake Facility, located on the south shore of Ute Reservoir. In March 2011, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NM ISC) granted a perpetual easement to the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Intake Facility.…

By Cindy Riley, CEG Correspondent

In eastern New Mexico, a $60 million water pipeline project known as Finished Water 1 (FW1) is underway to combat critical water shortages caused by declining aquifer levels. The project, part of the Ute Pipeline system, aims to deliver potable water from Ute Reservoir to various communities by 2031. Federally funded with state and local support, the initiative is crucial for ensuring water security and sustainability for future generations.

As various segments of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System are completed, ongoing Operation and Maintenance (O&M) efforts are crucial to ensuring the systems’ longevity, sustainability, and water quality. O&M activities are currently underway for Finished Water 2 (FW2), Cannon Lateral, and Finished Water 3A Pipelines. A dedicated O&M team is tasked with monitoring…

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority is committed to selecting the optimal bedding materials for each project, ensuring the highest standards of durability and protection to pipelines. In our various ENMRWS projects, we primarily utilize two types of pipe bedding materials: granular backfill and Flowable Fill also called Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM). Granular backfill…

Certain segments of the ENMRWS pipeline need to cross highways, railroads, or overpasses, which in some cases trenchless crossing methods are utilized. These innovative techniques enable the installation of pipes underground without disrupting surface traffic and eliminate disturbance and impact. By creating a seamless underground pathway, we can enhance our pipeline infrastructure while preserving the…

The Finished Water 3 (FW3) Project is a critical component of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS) and is being implemented in two phases: FW3A and FW3B. The FW3 system begins at its connection point with the Finished Water 2 (FW2) line near Cannon Air Force Base and spans a total of 17.2…

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has been working on multiple phases of this project over many years. McWane Ductile has partnered with them again for this phase, which is expected to last an estimated one year of production time. The project aims to provide potable water to four city and county member agencies and Cannon Air Force Base for municipal, commercial and industrial use.

The Eastern New Mexico News recently asked the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) to participate in a question-and-answer (Q&A) series that will be published in their local print and online newspaper. The following are the first Q&A installment in the series published on November 2, 2024.

As we recently broke ground on Finished Water 3B (FW3B), the process of installing construction fencing along the easement area, clearing and grubbing, and pipe installation has begun on the remaining 5.7-mile segment of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System pipeline to Portales! The overall length of the FW3 pipeline that connects from the FW2…

By John DAntonio

In my tenure as the state engineer of New Mexico, I grappled firsthand with the complexities of water management in a desert state. The Ute Reservoir has emerged as a focal point of controversy and misunderstanding, particularly with recent challenges to the construction of a vital pipeline — a project that is not just beneficial but essential for eastern New Mexico.