Estancia, New Mexico, has declared a water emergency and is trucking in supplies after its wells ran low. The town has reduced deliveries to the nearby Torrance County Detention Facility, its largest commercial customer.
Following years of drought, Estancia declared a water emergency last week and began hauling water to fill its pipes. The town also cut sales to the Torrance County Detention Facility, a federal immigration center operated by CoreCivic, which then started trucking in its own water.
At a board of trustees meeting on Tuesday evening, officials passed a vote of no confidence in Mayor Runnel Riley, who has taken a leave of absence. Dozens of residents attended to express frustration over delays in drilling a new well. The state has funded the project, and the town plans to open a 30-day bidding process this month.
CoreCivic said it has implemented contingency plans and that operations at the facility have not been affected. Ryan Gustin, senior public affairs director at the company, stated that drinking water remains available and bottled water has been provided. Town deputy clerk Roy Hubbard said Estancia met with CoreCivic on Wednesday to discuss next steps.
The detention center can hold up to 800 people, while Estancia has about 1,400 residents. More than 80 percent of the town’s water goes to commercial customers, though officials have not released exact figures for the facility.
