ENMWUA to close $24.3 million loan grant agreement
Media Release, Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority
CLOVIS, NM— The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) will complete a $24.3 million loan grant agreement with the New Mexico Water Trust Board and Finance Authority on December 18, 2026.
This agreement makes available $24,300,000.00 in funding, which will complete the budget for the Raw Water 1B/Raw Water 2 (RW1B/RW2) 11.6-mile transmission pipeline project. This is the final phase of the large diameter pipeline projects for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS).
“This is an important milestone as we move forward toward our goal of having the system fully operational by 2031,” said Mike Morris, Chair of the ENMWUA. He added, “We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of the Water Trust Board and Finance Authority and are excited to begin construction on this project in early 2027.”
The $24.3 million allocation includes a 90 percent grant ($21,870,000) and a 10 percent loan ($2,430,000). With this funding now available, ENMWUA can move forward with the RW1B/RW2 project, which is an important phase in the transmission pipeline development.
The RW1B/RW2 project requests for proposals (RFPs) are due November 4, 2026. This phase is the last of three raw water pipelines of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS).
ENMWUA Vice-Chair Jim Lucero added: “This segment of 42-inch welded steel pipeline will transport water from Raw Water Pipeline One A to the Caprock Pump station and from the Caprock Pump Station to the Caprock tank. It is a critical component of our system. We look forward to selection of a contractor soon and beginning installation of this last segment of raw water pipeline in 2027.”
About the ENMWUA -- The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority was created by the New Mexico State Legislature in 2010 to build and operate the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS), a regional project federally authorized in 2009 to supply drinking water to Clovis (including Canon Air Force Base and portions of Curry County), Portales (including portions of Roosevelt County), Texico and Elida. The project will treat and deliver up to 16,415 acre-feet per year from a renewable surface water supply at Ute Reservoir, supplementing the current sole source of water for the area, the Ogallala Aquifer.
