The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) announced
today that it has received official notice from the New Mexico Finance Authority that $18.7
million in Water Project Fund has been awarded to support continued design and construction of
the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS), commonly known as the Ute
Pipeline Project.
The funding, recommended by the New Mexico Water Trust Board (WTB) in the form of a 90%
grant and 10% loan represents a significant milestone in the long-term effort to secure a
sustainable water supply for the eastern region of the state. The award was formally confirmed
on June 5, 2025.
“The continued support from the Water Trust Board and the State of New Mexico is not only
vital to the progress of the Ute Pipeline Project but also reaffirms the state’s commitment to
long-term water sustainability,” said Mike Morris, Board Chairman of the ENMWUA. “This
investment brings us one step closer to our goal of delivering water by 2031.”
The WTB is a 16-member board composed of representatives from diverse sectors across the
state, tasked with recommending water infrastructure projects for funding through the Water
Project Fund. The WTB has played a pivotal role in supporting the ENMRWS, providing
essential financial resources that have made design and construction of the regional pipeline
possible.
The $18.7 million allocation aligns closely with the goals of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s
50-Year Water Action Plan, which emphasizes proactive, regional solutions to the state’s
evolving water challenges.
Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority Members
City of Clovis • Town of Elida • City of Portales • City of Texico
5140 N. Prince St., Clovis, NM 88101
Michael A. Morris, Chair
Jim Lucero, Vice-Chair
The ENMRWS is a large-scale infrastructure project designed to deliver a renewable drinking
water supply to communities throughout eastern New Mexico that include Clovis, Cannon Air
Force Base, Portales, Texico, and Elida. The system will ultimately convey surface water from
Ute Reservoir through a network of pipelines and facilities, reducing reliance on rapidly
depleting groundwater resources in the Ogallala Aquifer.
The project’s financing structure consists of 75% federal support, 15% state contributions, and
10% local funding. Continued investment from state partners like the Water Trust Board is
essential to meeting the project’s development timeline and ensuring the delivery of safe,
sustainable water to nearly 80,000 New Mexicans.
The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, federally authorized in 2009, aims to provide
potable water to four city member agencies and Cannon Air Force Base from Ute Reservoir. The
ENMWUA was established by the New Mexico State Legislature on July 1, 2010.
For more information on the ENMRWS and ongoing project updates, visit www.enmwua.com.
