New Mexico’s Sandoval County recently stumbled upon what could be 100 years worth of water. After pumping six million dollars into exploration of the aquifer, county officials now believe the source runs deep enough and contains enough water to merit treatment.
As the water is briny, expensive desalination efforts are required to bring the resource up to drinking standards.
While the potential supply could provide 300,000 people with water, Bruce Thomson — University of New Mexico Water Resource director — reminded the Albuquerque Journal that 100 years does not last forever.
Mark Sanchez, executive director of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority, also worried about zealous development. “They need to make sure they are not propping up communities that rely on water they won’t have in 100 years,” he told the Journal. “Deep aquifers don’t replenish themselves. There’s a fixed amount of water.”
Source: The Albuquerque Journal, WaterWired