Water in the Mid Rio Grande Area: A Tale of Two Cities

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(Excerpt from mid Rio Grande Times)

Many of us in the mid Rio Grande area take water for granted when we open the faucet or flush the toilet. We may not know anything about the processes for supplying potable water or its disposal after use. We probably notice that our water bills also contain a bill for wastewater disposal, and we may realize that our water disposal is related to our water use.  But we may know very little about the water management system.

In the larger metro area, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) manages drinking water and wastewater disposal. The Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for which census data is regularly collected includes Albuquerque as well as towns such as Estancia, Moriarty, Edgewood, Cedar Crest, and surrounding areas.  Not all of the MSA is served by ABCWUA, though.  ABCWUA draws on the Middle Rio Grande Basin for groundwater, while the Estancia Basin is used by many non-urban water users in the area.

Households in non-urban settings have more direct involvement in their own water supply and disposal.  Non-urban households – outside of towns with municipal water supplies – get their water from groundwater wells and dispose of their wastewater through onsite (septic) treatment systems.

Read full article

 

Videos on Environmental Racism in Arizona Urge Reduction in Methane Pollution

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The Arizona-based coalition Fuerte created a couple of videos as part of its campaign to fight environmental racism.

Low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities in Arizona, such as those in Maryvale, South Phoenix, and South Tucson, have a history of *environmental racism. 

*Environmental racism refers to institutional rules, regulations, policies, or government and/or corporate decisions that disproportionately target low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities to environmental burdens and a lack of environmental benefits. Environmental burdens include proximity to toxic facilities, noise and environmental pollution, hazardous waste, and other factors that compromise healthy lifestyles. Environmental benefits include access to green spaces, healthy food, clean air and water, and other factors that promote healthy lifestyles.

The environmental justice movement pushes for environmental, economic, and social justice and demands that a clean environment be treated as a basic human right.

#CutMethanePollution 

Reducing methane pollution from the oil and gas industry is the quickest, most cost-effective way to slow the rate of climate change and protect communities across the country.

 

Coalition to Hold Events in New Mexico Around BLM Lease Auction

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The Bureau of Land Management will have a 3,000 acre lease auction on-line on public land in the Permian Basin on May 25.

A coalition, including IPL NM & EL, is  planning an event to give a letter to BLM regarding No More Sacrifice Zones and concerns for sacred land, water, air, and climate and our communities and their health.

Events at:
May 22 Carlsbad
May 23  Farmington
May 24 Albuquerque
May 25 Las Cruces and Santa Fe
Watch for time, place and more details about events in each of these communities.