Water Master Plan

Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority Water Master Plan

What is a Master Water Plan?

This comprehensive plan addresses the Authority’s water system needs over the next 20 years, following state and federal drinking water standards, to ensure the health and stability of the water system for future generations.

Water Master Plan Efforts include:

• Updated inventory of current water utility system assets
• Water system evaluation through computer software based hydraulic model
• Analysis of future system demands for water supply, storage, and available flow for fire protection
• Development of a capital improvements plan focused on correcting existing system deficiencies, meeting projected future demands, and merging separate water systems to increase resiliency.

Our Water System

Since forming in 2009, the Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority has acquired 11 former mutual domestic water associations and one private water system, operating within four separate water service areas. In 2017, the Authority embarked on creating a Water Master Plan to unify the independent water systems, simplify operations, reduce maintenance, and promote reliable access to drinking water for rural Southern New Mexico communities.

Summary of Existing Assets:

• 24 ground-set storage tanks
• Mesquite Water Tower
• 15 domestic groundwater wells on the Middle and Upper Santa Fe Group aquifer
• Over 274 miles of waterlines
• Several booster pump stations
• Fire hydrants & water meters for over 5,000 water service connections