REAL-TIME WATER QUALITY MONITORING

HB 427 amends New Mexico's Water Project Finance Act to prioritize real-time water quality monitoring as a qualifying project for state funding. It authorizes grants (up to $500,000 per application) and loans for water systems or local governments to implement real-time monitoring technology, track drinking water quality data, and report results to the Department of Environment. The bill establishes a total funding cap of $31.5 million for these projects, with the authority required to review the cap by June 2027. It directly affects municipal water providers and public utilities seeking to upgrade monitoring systems under the state's water project fund.