New Mexico Earth Matters — Back-issues

New Mexico meets its ever-growing need for water through both surface and groundwater resources. The supply of surface water is largely dependent upon precipitation, and its availability is therefore subject to periods of drought. Shallow, fresh groundwater resources supplement the state’s water needs, but many of these resources are being used far faster than they are being replenished, and are therefore finite. We know that there are deeper, largely untapped groundwater resources, but generally these are too salty to drink or to use for irrigation without treatment. Nonetheless, they provide a potential alternative source of groundwater, and are of increasing interest to the state, particularly as our evolving technologies are providing ways for us to use them.

Groundwater is water that is found in pore spaces of rock and sediment below the land surface. We know that much of our shallow groundwater in New Mexico is fresh in quality, and is a good source of drinking water and water for irrigation. However, in many places we encounter saltier water when we drill wells into groundwater basins. How much salty water is there, and where can we find it? Can we use it during times of drought, or in remote locations that do not have rivers or lakes? Or in applications where fresh water is not required? Will we damage the environment, especially our existing fresh water resources, if we try to use it?