Portales, EPCOR continue water talks

Portales officials decided Tuesday they’d like to continue discussions with EPCOR possibly providing water to the city.

“We’d like to know what we need to do and how we move forward with you guys -- if that’s what we choose to do -- so that we’re clear with the community and that we’re not just stringing y’all along,” Councilor Mike Rackler told EPCOR Vice President Jeffrey Stuck at the City Council meeting.

Officials agreed to set a work session to continue discussion.

“When we schedule this working session, it will be open to the public, so all the information that would be discussed in that work session would be a public meeting, just in case there’s any question,” said Michael Miller, Portales’ mayor.

Councilman Eldon Merrick said it’s important to take the next steps because, “the more we delay, the more water we’re wasting, the more things that need to be improved are set to the side, and we’ve had already a long period of that going on. … I’m ready to move forward and try to get us going in the right direction.”

No date for the working session was finalized.

Stuck on Tuesday told Council members what EPCOR officials had found so far in assessing Portales’ water infrastructure. 

On a PowerPoint slide labeled “Condition Assessment Highlights,” Stuck went over the following:

n There are electrical-safety and well-head concerns, along with “lack of data,” “disinfection concerns,” “lack of operational maintenance for plant and collections systems” and “reuse system has not been used in years.”

“These are not uncommon things that we’re seeing, particularly for utility of this size,” Stuck said. “I also want to emphasize that what we saw, we truly believe, is not a reflection of anybody’s lack of effort.”

He added: “My team, and the folks that were present in the condition assessment, were very impressed with staff, knowledge, skills, capabilities and openness, which sometimes you don’t encounter when you’re doing these kinds of things.

“Our team consisted of operators that are certified at the highest levels that you can attain for running water and wastewater and reclaimed water systems, licensed electricians, maintenance experts.”

EPCOR and Portales have been exchanging information about the city’s water infrastructure for months. The goal is to see if EPCOR would want to provide water to Portales as it does now for Clovis. Officials have said it could take months or even years before a decision is made.

Portales residents have been under watering restrictions for more than a year, hoping to ensure the city’s wells can provide water in the future.

“Our history is what it is, and we’ve got to go from here,” Rackler said.