New Mexico Town Faces Water Crisis, Limits Detention Center Supply

Estancia, New Mexico, a town of 1,400 residents, declared a water emergency last week as its wells are running dry due to years of drought. The town has begun hauling in water and has reduced its water sales to the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF), a federal immigration detention center operated by CoreCivic. The TCDF is Estancia's largest commercial water customer and has resorted to trucking in its own water supplies. In the midst of this crisis, Estancia Mayor Runnel Riley has taken a leave of absence, and the town's Board of Trustees passed a vote of "no confidence" in him. The state has provided funding for a new well, and Estancia will initiate a 30-day bidding process this month to drill it. Residents have expressed frustration over the water issues and the delays in drilling the new well. Information regarding the exact proportion of the town's water supply allocated to the detention facility, which can house up to 800 individuals, was not immediately available to board trustees. Ryan Gustin, senior public affairs director at CoreCivic, stated that the company implemented contingency plans upon learning of the water emergency and that operations at the TCDF have not been impacted, with drinking water consistently available. Estancia's deputy clerk, Roy Hubbard, indicated that the town is scheduled to meet with CoreCivic to discuss future actions.