By Howard Hutchinson
After decades working on water and land issues in New Mexico including over 20 years on the Water Quality Control Commission, one truth stands out: foreclosing potential new water sources shortchanges future generations.
I have spent my life defending water and property rights. Today, produced and brackish water sit in a “gray area” of policy and public perception. But here’s the reality: New Mexico has no new water sources. If we want to sustain our communities, we must explore how to treat and use what we already have.
Unfortunately, fear and opposition to oil and gas use cloud this conversation. Some refuse to even consider treatment options for produced water. That mindset is a disservice to our state. Choosing to do nothing is still a choice — one that leads to higher costs and fewer options.
Texas isn’t waiting. They’re treating produced water, testing its uses, and investing in infrastructure. Meanwhile, New Mexico pays to truck water across the border — a costly, missed opportunity.
I’ve seen the potential myself, touring a brackish water treatment facility in El Paso. It works. With smart planning and strong oversight, New Mexico can build similar systems to serve communities in need.
Of course, safeguards and accountability are essential. But slamming the door before understanding the possibilities is shortsighted.
New Mexicans have always been innovative. Reusing produced water and treating brackish water should be part of that tradition. These strategies can preserve freshwater, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
If we fail to adapt, we leave the next generation with fewer tools and higher costs. But if we confront the hard questions today, we give them a stronger, more secure future.
The choice is clear. Let’s stop wasting what we have and start making the most of it.
Howard Hutchinson lives in Glenwood, NM. He is a former Water Quality Control Commissioner, Executive Director of the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties for Stable Economic Growth, and Chair of the San Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District.
