New Mexico residents oppose company’s push to use more water

LOS LUNAS, N.M. — A bunch of Valencia County residents is once more opposing a bottling firm that’s asking the Los Lunas Village Council for the power to make use of extra water.

The grassroots group calls itself the Valencia Water Watchers. For years, members have been opposing Niagara Bottling, an organization based mostly in California that produces water and different drinks for different corporations.

The agenda for Thursday evening’s council assembly exhibits Niagara Bottling needs to increase in Valencia County and is asking the council to approve a rise within the quantity of water it’s allowed to make use of, an quantity water rights advocates say totals 1.6 million extra gallons per yr than it’s utilizing now.

“To me it’s absurd and grasping,” Valencia Water Watchers member Deirdra Velasquez mentioned.

The group says right here within the desert, amid a so-called mega drought and because the Rio Grande is experiencing issues, the corporate shouldn’t be allowed to make use of New Mexico assets on this manner.

“It’s not proper for firms like Niagara to come back into our small group and demand that they’ve this improve in water,” Velasquez mentioned.

They are saying that water, which might come from the realm’s aquifer, ought to go to New Mexicans – to farmers and, in fact, to everybody who drinks it.

“This isn’t the Los Lunas tea cup that they’re sipping out of. That is the Albuquerque basin,” Valencia Water Watchers member Pamela McKenzie mentioned. “Probably tens of millions of individuals might be affected by a handful – 5 males – sitting right here deciding the destiny.”

The subject was tabled at Thursday evening’s assembly.

Water advocates within the area say individuals all throughout central New Mexico ought to be apprehensive.

“Why would we wish to export water once we are already overpromised on our water,” mentioned Bob Wessely with Center Rio Grande Water Advocates. “It doesn’t sound like a good suggestion.”

Advocates say extra makes use of like what the corporate is looking for would impression not simply Valencia County, however any particular person utilizing water within the Albuquerque metro.

“We’re in a heap of bother already. Why construct on it?” Wessely mentioned.

The Valencia Water Watchers say Niagara Bottling withdrew the same request final yr after they opposed it.

The corporate didn’t reply Thursday to KOB 4’s request for remark.