Cannabis Crops Could Be Straining New Mexico’s Water Supplies

Cannabis Crops Could Be Straining New Mexico’s Water Supplies

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More medical marijuana plants are being grown in New Mexico than ever, and the crop could be straining local water supplies.

Two
rural water systems in Sandoval County say the crop may be depleting
local water supplies, and they say they have been left powerless to stop
it, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

The
Peña Blanca Water and Sanitation District and Sile Mutual Domestic
Water and Sewer Association sent a letter last month to state agencies
and legislators describing their concerns over their disappearing water
resources.

The water system representatives say New Mexico’s
patchwork of medical marijuana regulations has not kept up with the
increased strain on rural water supplies.

“The (cannabis)
companies may think that the water rights were already taken care of
when they purchased the property,” Peña Blanca district president John
Gurule said. “We see the potential for these farms to bring economic
growth to a rural community, so how do we support that growth while
bringing water to our residents?”

The groups are asking that all
producers applying for a medical cannabis license prove a valid water
right for commercial agriculture with the Office of the State Engineer.

The
Sile water system serves 154 people west of the Rio Grande between
Cochiti and Kewa pueblos. The Peña Blanca system is responsible for
delivering water to 448 people on the east side of the river between the
same pueblos.

An average household in the Peña Blanca system uses about 3,000 gallons of water a month, president John Gurule said.

A
cannabis farm with greenhouses in Peña Blanca that began operating last
year is logging 20,000 gallons of domestic water use per month.

The board members say the increases could point to treated drinking water being used for cannabis irrigation.

New
Mexico legalized medical cannabis in 2007. Domestic well water may not
be used for agriculture in the state. Farmers must irrigate cannabis or
other crops with another water source by acquiring a valid water right.

John
Romero, director of the Water Rights Division and the Resources
Allocation Program for the Office of the State Engineer, said the
affected mutual domestic water systems have a history of poor
infrastructure, limited revenue, too many connections, and water
overuse. The increase in cannabis production and alleged improper water
use may be exacerbating those issues.

“Cannabis hasn’t helped this
situation. It is illegal to use domestic well water for agriculture,
but it is up to (Sile and Peña Blanca) to enforce that,” Romero said.
“We can’t police every mutual domestic water association, but we will
work with them and help to see if these properties have a valid water
right for what they want to do.”

The post Cannabis Crops Could Be Straining New Mexico’s Water Supplies appeared first on High Times.

Comments

Traffic Roots Pixel