DRINKING WATER, ENERGY, AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP

PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS

SHEET NO. 1

IMPACT

PLANNED ACTIONS

RESPONSIBLE AGENCY
Drought induced mental anguish of farmers and ranchers resulting in increased suicides, social and family problems 1. Develop working partnerships with local ministerial alliances and county health departments to develop social counseling and support program.

2. Use local TV and radio outlets to implement public information program directed at reducing drought-induced mental stress.

 County health offices, local ministerial alliances, Ext. Service
Increased health problems for residents of areas experiencing blowing dust problems from drought affected agricultural lands 1. Develop county health programs addressing alternatives to diminish health effects of blowing dust. County health offices, Ext. Ser.

SWCD’s, NMED
Drought induced temperature extremes produce extreme living conditions for both rural and urban residents 1. Develop information program to provide living guidelines and alternatives to enable residents to cope with extreme conditions.

2. Develop partnerships with energy and telephone companies to use billing statements as conduit for public service health information.

 County health office, NMED
Many rural domestic water and sewage systems experience system failures when operating for extended periods of drought induced operation 1. Develop list of current rural water systems which have historically experienced operational problems.

2. Develop operational hotline communication system with these system operators, and use NMRWA newsletter and training sessions to emphasize correction of system deficiencies.

3. Develop plan of possible actions for each problem system, which might include increased storage, increased pumping capacity, and system retrofit.

4. Develop emergency fund for use of these systems to install emergency measures.

5. Emphasize planing and implementation of water conservation measures and drought contingency plans.

6. Investigate alternatives for emergency water rights transfers for rural water systems.

NM Rural Water Assn., NMNG, NMED, BIA

NM Water Conservation Alliance

NMOSE, NMISC

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRINKING WATER, ENERGY, AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP

PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS

SHEET NO. 2

IMPACT

PLANNED ACTIONS

RESPONSIBLE AGENCY
Due to drought, many municipal water systems experience potable water demand and sewage quality disposal problems 1. Emphasize water conservation measures in municipalities by use of on-going programs and NM Water Conservation Alliance resources.

2. Develop partnerships with energy companies to use energy billings to distribute water conservation and drought related information with billing statements.

3. Emphasize long and short term drought contingency plans for all municipal systems and in long range water resource plans.

4. Investigate alternatives for emergency water rights transfers for municipal water systems.

 NM Water Conservation Alliance, NMOSE, Local energy companies, municipal water system operators

NMISC

NMOSE
Increased presence of large industrial water users may overdraft available aquifers during periods of drought 1. Develop list of large industrial water users and their suppliers in the state.

2. Develop partnerships between industrial users and municipal suppliers to implement appropriate water conservation guidelines for targeted industrial users.

NM Water Conservation Alliance

NMOSE

NM Assoc. of Commerce and Industry, NM Municipal League
Increased electrical usage in both rural and urban sector may create overloads on available electrical grid network 1. Develop working partnerships with local urban and rural power suppliers to cooperate in providing energy and water conservation guidelines to public.

2. Use electrical company billings as method of getting printed conservation material to public.

3. Encourage energy, telephone, and mining companies to cooperate in the funding of water and energy conservation radio and TV spots

 SWCD’s, NM Water Alliance,

Local power, energy, mining and communication companies, NMOSE