State Engineer Requires Groundwater Metering in Valley
New Mexico's state engineer issued two orders requiring farms, businesses and utilities pumping groundwater in the Middle Rio Grande Valley to measure their water use.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Utilities
The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer issued two orders on Friday requiring groundwater pumpers in the Middle Rio Grande Valley to measure water use. Owners must install an approved meter and submit an initial meter reading by March 1, 2028.
Why it matters
The orders extend measurement requirements across the Valley from Cochiti Reservoir to Elephant Butte Reservoir, giving state regulators reliable data on how groundwater is being used. Accurate metering is a foundation for managing water supplies in New Mexico's most populated river corridor.
Non-domestic wells must report water use quarterly, while newly drilled single-household and livestock wells report annually. Existing wells serving a single household or watering livestock are exempt if used as permitted.
The players
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
The New Mexico state agency responsible for administering the state's water rights and groundwater resources.
The details
Owners of farms, businesses, utilities and community water systems pumping groundwater in the Middle Rio Grande Valley must install an approved meter. Neither order applies to water uses of the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos.
Timeline
Friday (November 13, 2026): State engineer issues two groundwater metering orders.
March 1, 2028: Deadline for owners to submit an initial meter reading.
Roadmap
The orders extend the state engineer's authority over groundwater use in the Middle Rio Grande Valley by adding mandatory metering to pumping. Metered data is the basis for enforcing water rights in a region where surface and groundwater supplies are closely linked.
Groundwater users in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, including farms, businesses and utilities, must install approved meters and track water use. Households with existing single-household or livestock wells used as permitted are exempt from the requirements.
The takeaway
Groundwater users in the Valley should review the orders and plan for meter installation well before the March 1, 2028 deadline. Early compliance helps avoid disruptions to water use reporting.
Further reading
Explore more on utilities coverage across New Mexico.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRQE 13.
