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Approving 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities
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SUMMARY:
The 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities for the Water Authority are summarized below. The Legislative Priorities are consistent with the prior year requests with modifications to reflect funding and updated status reports. The requests are divided into two sections, appropriation and/or authorization requests, and status reports.
Appropriation/Authorization Requests
1. Water Reclamation and Recycling Authorization
The Water Authority is requesting the following provision be enacted by Congress:
(A) Authorization - The Secretary, in cooperation with the Water Authority is authorized to participate in the planning, design and construction of facilities up to $20,000,000 as federal share to reclaim and reuse wastewater and naturally impaired ground and surface water in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
(B) Cost Share - The federal share of the cost of a project in subsection (a) shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total cost.
(C) Limitation - The Secretary shall not provide funds for operation of maintenance of the facilities described in subsection (a).
The above authorization is critical for the Water Authority to move forward on two important sustainability projects that will provide reuse of wastewater for irrigation and industrial use on the Westside, southeast heights, and Mesa del Sol developments. With the new Title XVI, the Water Authority is requesting $500,000 to initiate the feasibility and NEPA analysis for the Westside and Tijeras Arroyo facilities.
A. Tijeras Reuse Project. The Water Authority has been evaluating reuse and recycling opportunities on the southeast portion of the Water Authority’s service area that would provide non-potable reuse water for irrigation and industrial uses in that area. The facility will be located near the Tijeras Arroyo and would treat domestic wastewater from Albuquerque’s eastside to high reuse or potentially potable drinking water standards t...
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