ENMWUA secures $77 million federal appropriation for Eastern New Mexico rural water system

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has secured $77 million from the US Bureau of Reclamation to continue construction of its rural water system. Combined with recent state funding, ENMWUA has approximately $95.7 million to complete 16.3 miles of large diameter pipelines, delivering water from Ute Reservoir to five member communities and Cannon Air Force Base.

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has secured a $77 million federal appropriation from the US Bureau of Reclamation to continue construction of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, a critical infrastructure project designed to deliver a long-term, renewable water supply to the ENMWUA member communities of Clovis, Cannon Air Force Base, Portales, Texico, and Elida, according to an official announcement. The project has been continuously under construction for eight years and is on track to begin delivering renewable surface water to member communities within the next five years.

ENMWUA is a water utility authority serving eastern New Mexico communities. The $77 million federal appropriation, combined with recent state funding awards, means ENMWUA has secured approximately $95.7 million in recent project funding to apply toward completion of 16.3 miles of the Raw Water 1B and Raw Water 2 pipelines, representing the final large diameter pipeline segments necessary to deliver future surface water from Ute Reservoir to ENMWUA's member communities. The project serves nearly 73,000 residents.

This development matters for New Mexico's water infrastructure, where securing a long-term, renewable water supply is vital for rural communities and military installations. The ENMWUA anticipates bidding the final large diameter pipeline segment in the fall of 2026 and beginning construction in early to mid-2027.

For the construction and water infrastructure industry, the funding represents continued federal support for a project that has been in progress for eight years. Stakeholders including member communities, Cannon Air Force Base, and regional residents stand to benefit from the completion of the final pipeline segments, securing the water future for nearly 73,000 neighbors.