Let’s start with just one portion of the answer, maybe the most important answer, water usage. According to industry expert Kelly Tooker of NM Junior College who gave a presentation to a Sandoval County Commission Work Session on May 12th, horizontal fracturing processes use on average 4.2 million gallons of water per fracking well. One fracking well is water for approximately 40 households for an entire year.

But there will not be just one fracking well and they could be scattered among our houses. We have no protective regulations in place. The water that is used in the fracking process is eventually changed into a toxic waste and dumped 2 miles deep into disposal wells, permanently removing it from the natural water cycle. There is no Return Flow Credit for that water. Whereas 40 households would actually return much of the water they use to the natural water cycle.

The Oil Conservation Division (OCD) is the State agency that oversees oil and gas operations in New Mexico. The OCD website says that nearly 2 billion gallons of water is used in the fracking processes each year in New Mexico alone. They also say this is only 1% of the total annual water usage for the state. The problem is that our water is turned into toxic waste and dumped somewhere (another important issue). Add that water loss up year after year. At what point should we be alarmed?

As a New Mexico building contractor, I am familiar with the federal and state regulations that guide my industry. In addition to those regulations there are over 100 pages of Sandoval County regulations that we in the construction industry must abide by.

Anyone subdividing a tract of land in certain areas of Sandoval County that would support 40 households would need to prove a 50 year supply of water. Shouldn’t the same be true for the oil and gas industry which competes with all other users for the same water?

New Mexicans depend on access to clean water. Our county depends on water. Our water must come first. The Albuquerque Basin is water to over 800,000 users, 40% of all New Mexicans. There is oil and gas beneath it. The Albuquerque Basin spans several Counties, including Sandoval and Bernalillo Counties.

In order to protect the water for their 600,000 water users The Water Protection Advisory Board of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has issued a Letter of Recommendation to the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County for oil and gas ordinances. Understanding the significant threats to the basin, officials in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are also working in that direction.

We cannot take chances with our most precious resource, WATER. Oil and Gas Ordinances put in place rules to help ensure the industry operates responsibly. It’s time to go to Planning and Zoning meetings, County Commission meetings and to call your County Commissioners. Your presence, your voice, speaks volumes.

Mike Neas