New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission

The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission was created by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1967 in response to the federal Water Quality Control Act of 1965, which declared that each state must develop quality standards for its interstate waters. The objective of the Commission was to protect public health and enhance the quality of water while taking into consideration public needs such as agriculture, industry, recreation, and other beneficial uses. Additional activities of the Commission included accepting and supervising the administration of loans and grants from the federal government, adopting regulations to prevent water pollution, and seeking injunctive relief for violation of its regulations.

The Water Quality Control Commission was created by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1967 in response to the federal Water Quality Control Act of 1965, which declared that each state must develop quality standards for its interstate waters. Composed of directors from six agencies and one public representative, the Commission was established to create standards for water quality for New Mexicos interstate waters and to develop a plan for enforcing those standards. The agencies involved in the commission include the New Mexico Department of Public Health, the State Engineer, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Oil Conservation Commission, the State Parks and Recreation Commission, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

The objective of the commission was to protect public health and enhance the quality of water while taking into consideration public needs such as agriculture, industry, recreation, and other beneficial uses. Additional activities of the commission included accepting and supervising the administration of loans and grants from the federal government, adopting regulations to prevent water pollution, and seeking injunctive relief for violation of its regulations.