Senate Joint Memorial 4 requests that the Governor of New Mexico instruct state agencies and authorities to urgently advance and coordinate the conversion, purification, and transmission of remote agricultural water resources to the city of Portales and Roosevelt County for municipal drinking water. The memorial highlights the critical water supply issues faced by Portales, which relies on the Ogallala/High Plains aquifer that has been significantly depleted over the years. It emphasizes the need for immediate action to secure additional purified drinking water resources, particularly as the city has been under severe water restrictions and has experienced rising utility rates.

The memorial calls for a comprehensive plan to be developed that includes investigating all potential resources for delivering purified drinking water, declaring an emergency related to the water insecurity, and coordinating efforts among various state departments and authorities. It also urges the eastern New Mexico water utility authority to utilize the finished water 3 pipeline to facilitate the delivery of drinking water from agricultural sources to the city. The resolution aims to ensure that the residents of Portales and Roosevelt County have access to sufficient drinking water, especially in light of the anticipated delays in the Ute pipeline project.