ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY
WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY
BILL NO. R-17-21
RESOLUTION
t
Supporting an Inventory of Known and Potential Groundwater Contamination Sites Within and Near the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority Service Area Including Potential Threats to the Regional Aquifer
b
Whereas, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (Water Authority) has prepared for its ratepayers a 100-year water resources management strategy entitled, “Water 2120: Securing Our Water Future”, which was authorized by the Governing Board through the approval of R-16-12, directing staff to continue implementing the Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan through Policy H of Water 2120;
Whereas, the Water Authority has adopted the Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan with the mission of ensuring the quality of our surface and groundwater resources so that public health, quality of life, and economic vitality of this and future generations are not diminished; and
Whereas, Policy H also directs the Water Authority to consider the occurrence, fate and potential treatment of emerging contaminants in current and future water supplies; and
Whereas, the Water Authority is committed to the proactive surveillance and monitoring of known and potential sources of contamination threatening the drinking water supply; and
Whereas, there are at least twenty known groundwater contamination sites in the service area, including, superfund and state-lead cleanup sites, and several actively monitored hazardous material and waste impoundments and groundwater contamination sites on Kirtland Air Force Base related to historical activities, including the Bulk Fuels Facility leak, and Sandia National Laboratory operations; and
Whereas, the Sandoval County Commission is considering an oil and gas ordinance that has the potential to attract these activities closer to the Water Authority’s service area and introduce potential contamination to currently high-quality groundwater; and
WHEREAS, the Water Authority continues to support the mission of the joint City/County/Water Authority work on the Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan (WQPPAP) to ensure the quality of surface and groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and Water Authority jointly cooperate through the Water Protection Advisory Board in protecting surface and groundwater in the region.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY:
Section 1. That an inventory of known groundwater contamination sites within and adjacent to the Water Authority’s service area be prepared.
Section 2. That potential groundwater contamination threats within and adjacent to the Water Authority’s service area be identified.
Section 3. That existing information of known and potential groundwater contamination threats be utilized and a report and recommendations which may be used in support of the groundwater management plan and/or update to the WQPPAP be prepared.
Section 4. That the findings of this process be presented to the Water Authority Board by June 2018.