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Commission hears detailed update on Ute pipeline, Texaco lateral, and water-treatment brine disposal options
Summary
Officials reported progress across multiple U-pipeline phases — Texaco lateral nearing completion, Raw Water 1 bids due May 20, and Raw Water 3 more than 50% complete — and discussed a pilot reverse-osmosis plant and a preferred brine-disposal option (Class I deep injection) undergoing EPA/NMED permitting.
Commissioners received a broad progress update from the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority on the U-pipeline project, including construction milestones, upcoming bids and a technical briefing on water-treatment pilot operations and brine disposal.
Mayor Mike Morris summarized project status: Raw Water 1A is out for bid with responses due May 20; Raw Water 1B and Raw Water 2 (a tunnel/bore) are being advanced together to attract bidders; Raw Water 3 is over 50% complete and the Texaco lateral is expected to be finished this summer and provide a minimum flow to the city of Texaco through an EPCOR partnership.
Regarding treatment, officials described a pilot reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane plant operating at the reservoir since late October or November to refine processes and manage a brine stream. "They're pumping water out of the reservoir, treating it, there's a brine stream that comes off of the treatment process...they're refining that process," the mayor said.
Authority staff and the mayor said the preferred disposal method for RO brine under study is a Class I deep injection well, which they described as a highly regulated disposal option designed to protect drinking-water supplies. The mayor noted that the city has applied to NMED and the EPA for permitting and emphasized that the permitting process is rigorous: "They won't just issue us a permit and now we can go inject the brine," he said, adding that alternatives would be used if geologic or regulatory review indicates unacceptable risk.
Commissioners also discussed peer review and oversight steps: the authority renewed a professional services agreement with Howe Water Science to peer-review Jacobs Engineering's designs and is acquiring easements needed for Raw Water 2 and other project phases. Mayor Morris said he expects federal funding decisions from the Bureau of Reclamation soon and that staff will announce confirmed awards when available.
The presentation included an operational note that the pilot RO plant returns treated water and refines brine handling ahead of the full 28 million-gallon-per-day design. Commissioners asked for continued transparency and public education as permitting and construction proceed.
