Hobbs utilities report: city relies on Ogallala groundwater, advances major meter and sewer projects

Tim Woomer, Hobbs’ utilities director, told the City Commission on March 3 that the city remains fully dependent on groundwater from the Ogallala aquifer and has completed a water and wastewater master plan to guide future infrastructure and funding decisions.

Woomer said the city’s long-running conservation program (May 15–Sept. 15) has held total summer consumption roughly flat even as the number of active meters grew from about 2,081 in 2010 to an average 14,316 in 2024. "Essentially over the 10 year period, we've saved one year over one year of produced water at about 3,000,000,000 gallons on average," he said.

The nut graf: the report frames Hobbs’ near‑term capital priorities around maintaining supply and replacing aging infrastructure while giving residents new tools to monitor and manage water use.

Woomer described the city’s supply and capacity in detail. The city operates about 32 production wells, with average depths near 240 feet and production per well ranging…