From the Office of the State Engineer:
SANTA FE — State Engineer John R. D’Antonio Jr., P.E., Tuesday announced Tuesday a reminder of the Oct. 3, 2019, deadline to comply with the Metering Order for all well owners within the Nambé-Pojoaque-Tesuque (NPT) Basin Water Master District.
This order includes wells on the Nambé, Pojoaque, Tesuque and San Ildefonso Pueblos. The original order required totalizing flow meters to be installed and operational by Oct. 3, 2018, for every groundwater well within the NPT Water Master District. An extension to the original order extended the deadline to Oct. 3, 2019.
The deadline was extended in response to public requests for more time to bring their wells into compliance with the order.
Under the deadline, no water may be diverted after Oct. 3, 2019, from any groundwater diversion in the NPT Water Master District unless it is equipped with a flow meter approved by the State Engineer.
“The measuring and reporting of groundwater diversions is an important component in managing and administering the waters of the NPT Water Master District,” State Engineer D’Antonio said. “The meters will also protect water rights and promote expedited leasing and marketing of water by ensuring a high degree of accuracy in the determination of actual water use.”
The State Engineer’s Office is planning a series of three public meetings to be held in the Basin over the next month to address any questions or concerns regarding the order, and the extension. The dates and locations are as follows: Wednesday June 19, El Rancho Senior Center; Tuesday June 25, Nambe Senior Center; Wednesday July 10, Rio en Medio/Chupadero Senior Center. All meetings 6-8 p.m. Santa Fe County will have a representative at the meetings.
For more information on water metering, as well as a list of acceptable meters, visit the OSE website at http://www.ose.state.nm.us/meter/.
The Office of the State Engineer is charged with administering the state’s water resources. The state engineer has authority over the measurement, appropriation, and distribution of all surface and groundwater in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries.
