Water utility authority approves five-year plan

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority on Thursday unanimously approved its five-year plan for infrastructure development.

Water Authority Administrator Orlando Ortega along with Chief Procurement Officer Jacquelynn Bowens presented the resolution.

“The (plan) is an important planning document that details the ENMWUA’s project priorities over the next five years and the funding needed to accomplish those projects,” Ortega said.

Ortega said the A presentation went before the ENMWUA Finance Committee before going to the Board for consideration of approval.

Currently the water authority has secured $289 million in funds from loans, grants and capital outlays in the previous years, Bowens said.

Below is the predicted cost for the Ute pipeline project for each year:

• 2026: $209 million

• 2027: $70 million

• 2028: $104 million

• 2029: $337 million

• 2030: $8.3 million

These are the predicted costs to cover things such as water rights, easements and rights of way, acquisition, archaeological studies, environmental studies, planning, design, construction and equipment.

“We update this every year around this time. The (plan) is a requirement from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration with deadlines for each local government category,” Ortega said.