Water/Environment
1/8/2008
Water/Environment
Congressman Reyes' views on water and environmental issues.
The issues of water and wastewater in El Paso and across the nation predominate community and Congressional concerns today. Conservation, water quality, and sound local resource management must go hand in hand with planning for the future of El Paso. Our strained underground aquifer system must be vigorously protected, and use of surface water in the Rio Grande while the Southwestern U.S. is in a drought must be used wisely.
It is for these reasons that Congressional legislation in recent years has established priorities for programs and projects that benefit everyone. The centerpiece of planning and development for water, wastewater and flood control is the invaluable exchange of information, ideas, cooperation, and collaboration extending from the past three annual Water Summits that I have hosted. Experts from throughout the region have been brought to El Paso for these valuable public forums that have helped produce consensus and direction regarding our future water needs.
It cannot be repeated enough that El Paso is not running out of water; El Paso is running out of cheap water. In response, the largest inland desalination plant is currently under design and development through a unique joint-venture between the El Paso Water Utilities and Fort Bliss. To meet our water demands for the next 50 years and beyond, this $67 million project will tap our huge reserves of underground brackish water to produce quality water for El Pasos municipal needs and for sustaining Fort Bliss defense mission. The plant will be able to produce 27.5 million gallons per day (mgd), with 7.5-mgd as Fort Bliss share.
In Fiscal Year 2003, a $7 million appropriation was approved for the desalination project, adding to start-up funding obtained earlier.
Other FY 2003 water, waste-water and flood control funding included:
$365,000 Preliminary studies for flood control projects in Northwest El Paso and Sparks Addition.
$1 million Flood control construction in northwest El Paso for the Army Corps of Engineers.
$800,000 Continued funding for Haskell Street water reclamation and re-use project.
FY 2002 water, waste-water and flood control funding included:
$1 million Haskell Street water reclamation and re-use.
$3 million Materials Corridor Initiative (research and development for border universities on environmental issues, including water, water quality and wastewater).
$100,000 Sparks Addition flood control.
$5 million Replacement of Fort Bliss water storage tanks.
$10 million EPWU/Fort Bliss desalination project.
FY 2001 water, waste-water and flood control funding included:
$1 million Haskell Street water reclamation and re-use.
$3 million Material Corridor Initiative.
In addition, in late 2002, I formed the Rio Grande Watershed Federal Coordinating Committee, a consortium of 11 federal agencies that have jurisdiction throughout the entire watershed of the 1,885-mile long Rio Grande River. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year, and is designed to explore a wide variety of information-sharing and collaborative projects.
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