Portales looks into privatizing water system

Portales’ Water Advisory Group on Monday talked about bringing in a private corporation to operate the city’s municipal water system.

Portales’ Interim City Manager T. J. Cathey wrote in an email to The News that the Public Works Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday and would also talk about privatizing.

Neither entity has authority to take action, but can recommend action to the City Council.

Both groups were to talk about an agreement with EPCOR, the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based corporation that operates the Clovis municipal water system.

“The action/discussion is not to contract EPCOR to take over operations, but to entertain the possibility of them doing so,” Cathey told The News.

“There is an extensive process that would have to take place and we need more information before a decision is made. 

“According to … EPCOR it will be an approximate two-year process if and only if the City Council decides to go that route,” Cathey wrote.

Mike Davidson is a member of the Water Advisory Group.

In an email to The News, Davidson wrote in addition to other matters handled by the board, there was talk of EPCOR on Monday.

“Discussion was opened about next steps needed to invite EPCOR to proceed with evaluating data, assets, prior reports and additional assessments to be able to provide Portales with information regarding system needs and utility rate impact,” Davidson wrote.

“All present felt like the Water Advisory Group was a ‘green light’ to procedurally move to the next step (regarding EPCOR) which is Public Works (committee).”      

Portales residents have faced water restrictions since last summer as city officials have been concerned about tank levels steadily dropping in recent years.

Portales City Council members in April were reminded of a 2018 report that noted, without proper management, Portales could run out of water by 2027.

According to EPCOR’s website, in addition to operating systems in Canada, EPCOR handles operations of water, wastewater, natural gas and electricity distribution systems in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

Attempts to talk to EPCOR about possibly operating a water system for Portales were not immediately successful.