Lunch Seminar March 4, 2011

UNM Water Resources Program

Association of Water Professionals


Lunch Seminar by John Shomaker


Water in Deep Aquifers as a Potential Supply Near Albuquerque

Friday March 4, 2011
12:00 pm – 1:00pm
SUB Sandia Room

Abstract

By 2009, notices of intent to develop about 1,000,000 ac-ft/yr from deep, brackish or saline ground-water supplies, under the exemption afforded by Sec. 72-12-25 of the water code, had been filed with the State Engineer. Proposed wells to produce about 245,000 ac-ft/yr were on the West Mesa or in the Puerco Valley. The intense interest is attributable to the very rapid increase in Middle Rio Grande water-right prices that began in 2004. The deep aquifers are not a newly discovered supply, and the water is not completely unrelated to the shallower aquifers and the surface-water system. The emphasis so far seems to have been on the feasibility of desalination, but the required infrastructure (and costs) to produce the water would be prodigious and must be considered, as should the longevity of any particular well-field.

Water Use Calculator

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/

Copy and paste this link into your address bar. It's a fun and easy way to see how much water you use. Enjoy!

Current Events in Water

Here are a couple of articles from the Santa Fe New Mexican regarding water in our state. Feel free to leave comments!

New rule under fire from N.M. Cattle Growers Association
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/outstanding-waters-New-rule-under-fire-from-cattle-growers

Incoming state engineer will face a changing role
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/Incoming-state-engineer-will-face-a-changing-role

AWP and Water for People

There will be a joint meeting of Water for People and Association of Water Professionals on Wednesday, January 19, 2010. The meeting will begin at 6 pm at O'neill's on Central. Anyone interested is welcome to come.

Bruce Thomson, WRP Director, receives New Mexico Outstanding Earth Sciences Achievement Award

On February 4, 2010, Dr. Bruce Thomson, Director of the UNM Water Resources Program, was presented with the 2010 New Mexico Earth Sciences Achievement Award for outstanding contributions advancing the role of earth science in the areas of applied science in education in New Mexico.

Professor Thomson is also a Regents' Professor in the UNM Department of Civil Engineering. He has been on the UNM faculty since 1978. His research is focused on the chemistry and treatment of inorganic contaminants in ground water and wastewater reuse.

Congratulations Bruce!