BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s no secret that New Mexico has been in a drought for quite some time, and by the sight of the dry Rio Grande, it has some asking, ‘Where is our water coming from?’ The Rio Grande has been bone dry since the beginning of June. But since it’s one of the main sources of water here in Albuquerque and in Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has a backup option that it’s been leaning heavily on over the last three years.
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“This year we switched exclusively to groundwater in late April, early May,” David Morris said with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority. “Usually we’re able to go until June, so it was a little earlier than usual.”
Up until a few years ago, the water authority used 70% surface water from the Rio Grande, and 30% ground water from the wells in the underground aquifer. But three years ago that ratio flipped to 70% ground water and 30% surface water. “It is concerning because it means we’re not able to use surface water, and when we’re not able to use surface water, we have to draw on our ground water reserves, and we’re trying to save as much ground water as we can as a drought reserve to use in times like this,” Morris said…