What is the Strategic Water Supply?
Strategic Water Supply Roadmap
The Strategic Water Supply (SWS) is a groundbreaking initiative aiming to protect New Mexico’s freshwater supply in the face of climate change-induced challenges. House Bill 137 was approved and signed into law in 2025, creating the Strategic Water Supply Act. See below for details on the progress of the SWS.
The Strategic Water Supply Act
The Strategic Water Supply Act (the Act) establishes a framework for enhancing New Mexico’s freshwater resources through the development and management of brackish water. The Act creates the Strategic Water Supply Program, which allows New Mexico Department of Environment (NMED) and the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) to enter into contracts and award grants, under the Strategic Water Supply Fund, for projects that utilize treated brackish water.
The Strategic Water Supply Fund
The Strategic Water Supply Fund was created by the New Mexico Legislature to provide funding to entities that comply with all applicable state, federal, tribal and local governmental standards, permit requirements and other provisions of the law, for treated brackish water projects.
To qualify for funding, projects must comply with various legal standards, demonstrate economic development benefits, and in the case of contracts, include a community engagement plan that will be published.
The Act also mandates that the agency follow all state procurement processes, consult with the secretary of economic development and evaluate how the proposals will limit greenhouse gas emissions and notify the state investment council.
Updates to the fund will be posted on this page when they are available.
Strategic Water Supply Timeline
- January 21, 2025 – 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session opens
- November 26, 2024 – Presentation on the Strategic Water Supply to the WNRC Interim Committee
- November 22, 2024 – Final Strategic Water Supply Feasibility Study Released.
- October 18, 2024 – Feedback Period Ended for the Draft Strategic Water Supply Feasibility Study.
- September 27, 2024 – Presentation on the Strategic Water Supply to the New Mexico Water Law Conference.
- September 18, 2024 – Presentation on the Strategic Water Supply to the LFC Water Subcommittee.
- September 17, 2024 – Request for Technical, Economic and Legal Feedback on the Draft Strategic Water Supply Feasibility Study
- August 26, 2024 – Presentation on the Strategic Water Supply to the WNRC Interim Committee.
- August 7, 2024 – New Mexico Water Symposium – Strategic Water Supply Presentation
- June 27, 2024 – Strategic Water Supply: State of the Science Symposium
- June 11, 2024 – Presentations on Strategic Water Supply to the LFC Water Subcommittee
- June 5, 2024 – 50-Year Water Action Plan presentation and Strategic Water Supply panel at Agua es Critica: A Symposia Panel Series on Water Policy in New Mexico
- March 31, 2024 – RFI closed
- March 1, 2024 – Virtual Meeting 2, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Mountain Time
- February 27, 2024 – Virtual Meeting 1, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Mountain Time
- January 19, 2024 – RFI opened
Request for Information
RFI Responses
The New Mexico Environment Department issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Jan. 19, 2024 seeking technical and economic information from individuals, businesses, academia, government agencies, and other stakeholders related to the sourcing, treatment, delivery, storage, and industrial uses of brackish water and produced water.
The RFI closed on March 31, 2024. A summary of those results is linked below.
Strategic Water Supply: State of the Science Symposium
Feasibility Study
Click here to access the link to the final feasibility study.
Released November 22, 2024. Comment period was open from September 17, 2024 through October 18, 2024.
Feasibility Study Stakeholder Comments
More Information
Interested parties should sign up here to receive updates and notifications about the Strategic Water Supply.
