Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Managing Drought in El Paso
Regional Water Resources
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
Ciudad Juárez
TEXAS
NEW MEXICO
Mesilla Bolson
Hueco Bolson
Elephant Butte Dam
West Texas Aquifers
EL PASO
2
Surface Water
Groundwater
Reclaimed Water
Desalination
Conservation
Importation
Diversified Resources
50-Year Water Resource Management Plan adopted in 1991
Rio Grande History
1906 Treaty between United States and Mexico divides the water
1938 Compact among Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas divides U.S. water
3
Allocation of Rio Grande WaterFull ReleaseTotal = 792,000 Acre-Feet
U.S. Irrigation Districts667,000 ac-ft
El Paso65,000 ac-ft
Mexico Irrigation
60,000 ac-ft
Drought History
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Only 3 of the past 16 years has runoff
into Elephant Butte been above average
4
Bureau of Reclamation: Upper Colorado Region Historic Data
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Acr
e-Fe
etElephant Butte Reservoir
Historic Levels
2012 Drought Summary
EPWU received reduced river water allocation- 32,500 AF compared to usual 60,000 AF
River releases began late and ended earlyRiver gates at Caballo closed in the middle of season – 2 river water treatment plants shut down– 2 week critical conservation period in May
5
Rio Grande Runs DryMay 12, 2012
Available Water at Elephant Butte for the Region
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% End of Season 0.2% of capacity
Thou
sand
Acr
e-Fe
et
Beginning of Season 11% of capacity
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
6
IncreasedConservation &
Desalination
ReclaimedWater
Managing Drought
Surface WaterStrategies
Emergency Management
Rule
Groundwater Strategies
MEXICO
Ground and Surface Water Treatment Plants
Franklin Mountains
NEW MEXICO
EL PASO, TEXAS
Ciudad Juárez
Airport
Fort Bliss
Military Reservation
Surface Water PlantsGroundwater Plants
Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant
Robertson & Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plant
Upper Valley Water Treatment Plant
Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant
7
Peak Water DemandCalendar Year
149.5
159.5
169.5
179.5
189.5
199.5
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Milli
on G
allo
ns
195
163
8
Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant Production
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
1,800,000
2,000,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Jan-July
2012Projected
Unprecedented Freeze & Reduction
of Surface Water
Thou
sand
Gallons Reduction of
Surface Water
Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant ProductionJan. 2012– July 2012
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
Thou
sand
of G
allo
ns
No Surface Water
9
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
1‐May
2‐May
3‐May
4‐May
5‐May
6‐May
7‐May
8‐May
9‐May
10‐M
ay11
‐May
12‐M
ay13
‐May
14‐M
ay15
‐May
16‐M
ay17
‐May
18‐M
ay19
‐May
20‐M
ay21
‐May
22‐M
ay23
‐May
24‐M
ay25
‐May
26‐M
ay27
‐May
28‐M
ay29
‐May
30‐M
ay31
‐May
1‐Jun
2‐Jun
3‐Jun
4‐Jun
5‐Jun
6‐Jun
7‐Jun
8‐Jun
9‐Jun
10‐Jun
11‐Jun
Mill
ion
Gal
lons
Water Resources UsedMay – June 2012
Desalination Plant Stored Pond Water Surface Water Groundwater
2013 and Beyond
6 new wells on-line by April 2013Re-drilling 9 wells in lower valleyWater main projects to carry groundwater to central and downtown areas that heavily rely on river water
NE/Central Drought ProjectPaisano Project
North Central Reclaimed water project
10
11
Northeast/Central Drought ProjectWill Carry Groundwater from Wells in Northeast El Paso
to Central El Paso and Near Eastside
Paisano Valley Line
Existing Line
Proposed Line
Will Carry Groundwater from Wells in Canutilloto Downtown and Near West El Paso
12
North Central Reclaimed Water Project
2012 Conservation Campaign
Objectives:Decrease water consumptionIncrease awareness of water conservation Brand El Paso as a conservation leader
13
Public Education Campaign
Outdoor, television and radioOnline and mobileSocial MediaWebsite
Media and Public Relations
Watering schedule remindersTV and radio live interviewsCommunity events and workshopsHome Depot partnershipEl Paso Times partnership
14
• Campaign is successful tool to encourage conservation
• El Pasoans cut water use by over half-a-billion gallons in 2012
• Campaign will continue in 2013
Summary
We are prepared for drought
We will call for continued voluntary water conservation
If the snowpack and runoff is very low, we may have to request mandatory restrictions for a short period of time to meet demand
