Contractors building border wall ordered to stop drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico
Summary
Contractors building a border wall in New Mexico have been told by the Trump administration to stop drilling new water wells because the area is facing a drought. Local ranchers say the wells could take too much water, which they need to care for their cattle.Key Facts
- The Trump administration is building a border wall across four states, with over $46 billion in federal funding.
- Contractors in New Mexico have been ordered to stop drilling new wells due to drought concerns.
- Water is needed for making concrete and controlling dust during wall construction.
- Ranchers say water pumping for the wall could harm their cattle and their business.
- One well being drilled was expected to pump 300 gallons of water per minute; by comparison, a rancher’s wells pump 3 to 7 gallons per minute.
- The New Mexico state agency responsible for well permits said some wells were drilled without permission.
- The wells are located on federally owned land called the Roosevelt Reservation, about 60 miles north of the border.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to work with local authorities to manage the groundwater use.
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