Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the federal government is releasing a total of $2.2 million to fund three New Mexico water infrastructure projects.

The Eastern New Mexico Water Supply Project will receive $1 million to support the construction of an intake structure at Ute Reservoir that will supply water to eight municipalities and three counties in eastern New Mexico. Bingaman wrote the legislation that authorizes the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to spend up to $327 million to assist the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority in the construction of the pipeline.

"Access to clean, reliable drinking water can have a big impact on a communities economy and its ability to attract business and jobs.  The funding released today will help begin the task of delivering drinking water to parts of eastern New Mexico," Bingaman said.

The following New Mexico projects will also receive funding:

• $1 million for Price's Dairy (Middle Rio Grande Project): This project will allow the acquisition of senior water rights as an accompaniment to the purchase of Price's Dairy, which will be established as an urban National Wildlife Refuge.
• $200,000 for the Jicarilla Apache Rural Water System: This project will assist the Jicarilla Apache Nation in continuing its on-going work related to the Jicarilla-Apache Water System. This rural water grant will allow construction of new water and waste water facilities in the town of Dulce.