Our Operations crew manages and maintains approximately 100 square miles, 13 wells and 5,000 water connections! Our critical customers include 5 schools and 12 dairies.

All public water supply systems and public wastewater facilities in New Mexico are required to employ certified operators. Each level of certification (Small Systems, Advanced Small Systems, and Levels I thru IV) has a required minimum level of experience and hours of training for certification and a renewal period of three years requiring an additional 30 credit hours of continuing education.

New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau Utility Operator Certification Program is responsible for development, scheduling and administration of certification examinations, processing applications for certification and renewal, tracking all certified operators continuing education courses, evaluating training courses for relevance to program, tracking compliance with operator certification requirements and working with the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission and Utility Operators Certification Advisory Board.

The Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority employs 12 certified operators with:

  • 2 Water Level IV
  • 2 Water Lever III
  • 5 Water Level II and 3 Water Level I certifications; plus 3 Level IV Wastewater
  • 1 Level III Wastewater
  • 3 Level II Wastewater and 1 Level I Wastewater certifications.

Mesquite Drain Repair Project Photos

Mesquite Drain Project
Mesquite Drain Project
Mesquite Drain Project
Mesquite Drain Project

Here is a video about backflow and cross-connection prevention. You will find a link on our Documents page to download our Backflow and Cross-connection Policy.

Meet Our Operations Team

Ramon, Mike and JJ

Ramon, Mike and JJ

Operations Manager and Crew Leaders
Mike Lopez

Mike Lopez

Operations Manager
JJ Gutierrez

JJ Gutierrez

Treatment & Production Leader

Ramon Morales

Ramon Morales

Distribution Collections Crew Leader
Clinton Ryan Welsh

Clinton Ryan Welsh

Water/Waste Water Operator Trainee/Labor
Miguel Ortega

Miguel Ortega

Water Operator
Rigoberto Salazar

Rigoberto Salazar

Water/Waste Water Operator Trainee/Labor
Justin Butler

Justin Butler

Well Pump Treatment Technician
Juan Ambriz

Juan Ambriz

Well Pump Treatment Technician
Gabriel Ambriz

Gabriel Ambriz

Water/Waste Water Operator
Nathan Bakker

Nathan Bakker

Water/Waste Water Operator Trainee/Labor
Shawn Zachary

Shawn Zachary

Water/Waste Water Operator
Carole D Bouchard

Carole D Bouchard

Rincon - Water Waste Water Operator/Clerical
Todd S Roach

Todd S Roach

Rincon - Water Waste Water Operator Trainee/Labor