Wells in Estancia, New Mexico, are facing a dire situation as years of drought lead to critical water shortages. The small town in Torrance County recently declared a water emergency, prompting local authorities to initiate water deliveries to restore supplies. Estancia has also halted water sales to the Torrance County Detention Facility, which is operated by the private contractor CoreCivic and serves as the town’s largest commercial water customer.
In light of the crisis, Estancia Mayor Runel Riley has taken a leave of absence. During a board meeting held on Tuesday evening, town leaders adopted a resolution expressing no confidence in the mayor’s leadership. To address the urgent need for water, the state is funding a new well’s drilling, with a bidding process scheduled to commence later this month.
The board meeting drew considerable public attention, with dozens of residents participating, either in-person or online, to voice their frustrations about the ongoing water issues and the delay in new well drilling. When questioned by a reporter from Mountaineer Dispatch, board members admitted they lacked data on the proportion of the city’s water consumed by the detention facility. Estancia has a population of approximately 1,400, with the facility potentially housing up to 800 detainees.
CoreCivic’s senior communications director, Ryan Gustin, stated that the company has activated a contingency plan to manage the water emergency. Additional water resources have been made available at the Torrance County Detention Facility, with operations remaining unaffected by the current crisis. “Drinking water is always accessible within our housing units, along with the provision of bottled water,” Gustin noted.
Roy Hubbard, Estancia’s assistant executive director, revealed that town officials are scheduled to meet with CoreCivic to discuss further steps. Past complaints have surfaced regarding water and sewage issues at the detention facility, raising concerns among townsfolk about its impact on local resources.
Recurring Water Shortages and Delayed Solutions
The water crisis in Estancia is not a recent phenomenon. Last year, residents were urged to conserve water due to dwindling well outputs, a situation that was mirrored again in 2024.
The New Mexico Groundwater Alliance attributes the declining water levels in the Estancia Basin aquifer to over-extraction. The Office of the State Engineer has officially closed the basin to new water rights, predicting further declines if existing rights are exercised continuously.
In Torrance County and across New Mexico, severe drought conditions persist, compounded by climate change’s impact on rising temperatures and fluctuating precipitation patterns. The increasing pressures on water resources come as Estancia grapples with escalating water demands driven by its detention facility. The town’s mayor, Renelle Riley, elected in a tightly contested race by just five votes in November 2025, has since been absent from management meetings, prompting concerns from local legislators like State Rep. Stephanie Lord.
During the recent board meeting, Rep. Lord emphasized the necessity of addressing immediate water supply challenges while considering longer-term solutions. “We have to finalize our immediate concerns. There’s much more to address moving forward, but our focus must remain on resolution,” she stated.
In a separate but related decision, the board voted to prohibit fireworks during the July 4th weekend due to fire risk amid the ongoing drought conditions. Although future fireworks displays are anticipated, this precaution reflects the urgency of the town’s current water crisis.
As of Saturday, more than 116,700 gallons of water had been delivered to Estancia via trucking. Plans to gradually restore water supply to CoreCivic will proceed as additional resources become available. Town officials estimate that over 80% of Estancia’s water is consumed by commercial operations, but specific allocations to CoreCivic remain undisclosed.
The complexities surrounding water use in Estancia come into sharper focus amid ongoing scrutiny of detention centers. Past inspections by the Department of Homeland Security uncovered unsanitary conditions at the Torrance County facility, including malfunctions in the sewer system and inadequate access to water for detainees. CoreCivic has contended that supply issues have not affected operations negatively, maintaining that essential water provisions for residents remain uninterrupted.
The New Mexico Environmental Department is engaged in emergency response coordination, assisting Estancia in addressing the urgent water shortages. Additionally, in light of fluctuating demands related to immigration policy shifts, officials are increasingly concerned about local infrastructure’s capacity to handle growing water needs.
