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Aztec staff reports improved water supply after recent rains; rotations lifted for now
Summary
City staff told the commission that recent rains and reduced plant outflows have eased water shortages: the state engineer's office has removed ditch rotations for now and raw-water storage has increased, though rotations could resume if rainfall stops.
City staff reported to the Aztec City Commission on Aug. 26 that recent rains and lower plant outflows have eased near-term water shortages, temporarily prompting the state engineer's office to remove required ditch rotations.
A department head told the commission the city's flows out of the plant have "reduced a lot closer to, like, almost 50%," and said peak outflows that had approached 2,000,000 gallons a day have fallen significantly. "By reducing it, now we just double our capacity to at least 3 months," the staff member said, describing how lower demand and the rain extended raw-water storage.
The speaker said officials met with the county and other entities and credited recent precipitation for immediate relief, but cautioned that the state engineer's office "reserves the right" to enforce rotations again if dry conditions return. "It could be even as early as this week if it stops raining for a period of time," the staff member said.
Commissioners asked for clarifying information: Commissioner King thanked staff for the annual debt memo and requested a balance sheet for the same period, which staff agreed to provide. No formal policy action or ordinance was proposed at the meeting; the report was delivered as an informational update.
The commission did not take further action on water policy during the meeting. Staff said they will continue coordination with the state engineer's office and county partners and will return to the commission if formal restrictions are reimposed.
