Bloomfield plans to drill to find second source for water

BLOOMFIELD, N.M. (AP) — Bloomfield plans to drill four test drills as it seeks a secondary water source for the northwestern New Mexico city. Public Works Director Jason Thomas says the drilling is intended to determine whether there's an aquifer beneath the San Juan River that could provide quality drinking water. The Farmington Daily Times (https://goo.gl/XVg7bu ) reports the project is funded by capital outlay money the city received from the state in 2016. Bloomfield currently relies on water from a local irrigation district's ditch, but Mayor Scott Eckstein says city officials grew concerned about relying on one source when there was a breach in the ditch last year. Thomas says the city hopes to find a clean gravel layer that extends under the river and has a high flow rate.