ELDORADO AREA WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT
 
2 North Chamisa Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508-9483
 

 Updated:  August 1, 2024

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Projects that have been completed since 2016:

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2016

• Completed Phase 1 of the Pressure Zone Optimization Project, which reduces water pressure in high-pressure areas of the District and redistributes pressure zones to allow storage tanks to efficiently meet system demands. This project was funded in part by a $360,000 Water Trust Board (WTB) grant/loan. The total cost of the project was $710,000

• Replaced 460 old meters with new radio meters, increasing the number of radio meters in the system to 70%. 655 of the new meters are BEACON® meters which allow customers to monitor water use online and to receive an alert message when a water leak is detected. This project was funded in part by a $250,000 WTB grant.

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2017

• Completed an update to the EAWSD Utility Master Plan. This is the District’s (20-year) capital improvements plan. It needs to be updated every three to five years and is a requirement for obtaining State and Federal grants and loans. The project was funded in part by a $50,000 New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) Local Government Planning Fund grant. The total cost of the project was $93,000.

• Completed the Well 2A/2B Dual Production Project, which allows simultaneous pumping from both a new well and an older well at the Well 2 site, increasing potential water production by 70%. The project was funded in part by a 2016 Legislative grant of $115,000. The remaining funding was from a portion of a $357,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRLF) low-interest loan. The total cost of the project was $300,000.

• Replaced 73 old meters with the New BEACON meters bringing the total to 2,131 or 65% of thenumber of radio-read and BEACON meters in the system.

 

2018

• Completed construction of Well 19 Production Facilities with 80 gallons per minute of production capacity. The project was funded by two Legislative grants totaling $482,000 and a DWSRLF loan. Total cost of the project was $1,600,000.

• Completed construction of tank rehabilitation and cathodic protection improvements for the District’s Tank 1 and Tank 2. This important project which protects and extends the useful life of these crucial facilities was completed at a cost of $275,000.

• Replaced 300 manual meters with new BEACON meters bringing the number of radio-read and BEACON meters in the system to approximately 2,600 or 87%.

• Completed a SCADA Needs Assessment Study that included development of a five-year plan for upgrades and improvement to the District’s automated controls and data management system.

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​2019

• Completed Phase 2 of the Pressure Zone Optimization Project (PZO-2). PZO-2 was the second of the three-phase project of improvements to the District’s water system to reduce system high-pressure areas. The project was funded by a DWSRLF loan which included 25% loan forgiveness. The total cost of the project was $460,000.

• Completed the Caballos Trail pipeline replacement project. Due to the high frequency of line breaks and repairs of this 1,400 feet of undersized pipeline, the project was identified in the 2017 Utility Master Plan Update as the District’s highest-priority pipeline replacement project. The project was funded by a DWSLRF loan which included 25% loan forgiveness. The total cost of the project was $160,000.

• Completed Phase 1 of improvements to the District’s Administrative office located at 2 North Chamisa Drive. Improvements included a much-needed new roof, stucco, and HVAC system. The project was funded by a New Mexico Finance Authority Public Project Revolving Loan Fund (PPRF) loan. The total cost of the improvements was $165,000.

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​2020

• Completed the Tank 4 to Tank 1 Booster Pump Station (BPS) and Transmission Line (TL) project. This is the first of two projects to increase the capacity to transmit water throughout the District’ssystem as required as part of the Santa Fe County/Eldorado joint water delivery project. The project includes a new two-pump BPS at the District’s Tank 4 site and approximately 8,000 feet of new 8-inch pipeline from Tank 4 to a connection to Tank 1 at Avenida Del Monte Alto and Avenida De Amistad. The project was funded by a $315,000 Legislative Grant, a $500,000 WTB grant/loan and a DWSRLF loan. The cost of the project was $1,400,000. 

• Completed construction of Tank 4 rehabilitation and cathodic protection improvements. The cost of this much-needed project was $400,000, which was paid for by operating revenues. 

• Completed construction of Phase 2 of improvements to the District’s Administrative office. The approximately $40,000 in cost for these improvements were funded from the District’s capital to enhance the functionality of the space and the District’s ability to serve customers. The approximately $40,000 in costs for these improvements were funded from the District's capital reserves.

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2021

• Completed Phase 3 of the Pressure Zone Optimization Project (PZO-3). PZO-3 is the final phase of improvements to the District’s water system to reduce system high-pressure areas. Key elements of PZO-3 include installation of a systemwide high-speed radio communication system and monitoring capabilities at existing Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) stations. The project was funded by a DWSRLF loan, the terms of which include 25% loan forgiveness. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,050,000.

• Completed recoating of Tank 1. The $285,000 cost of the project was funded from the District’s capital reserves.​

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​2022

• Completed Santa Fe County (SFC) Pipeline Extension project. This is the second of two projects to increase the capacity to transmit water throughout the District's system as required as part of the Santa Fe County/Eldorado joint water delivery project. It is the largest project undertaken by the District since its inception. Elements of the project include a new booster pump station and chlorination system constructed at the District's Well 2A/2B site, approximately 11,500 feet of 10-inch water transmission pipeline within the Avenida De Compadres and Avenida Vista Grande utility easements from Wells 2A/2B to TAnk 4, and installation of disinfection byproduct removal equipment at Tank 4. The District was fortunate in securing multiple sources of funding for the $3,700,000 project, including two Legislative grants, a Water Trust Board grant/loan and a DWSRLF loan. Total grant funding of $1,680,000 covered over 45% of total project costs. 

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2023

•  Completed the Field Workshop/Garage. A much-needed approximately 3,300 square-foot multipurpose facility was built that serves the following functions: 1. A garage for parking and storage of large equipment, including a tractor, mobile generator, hydro-excavator, and backhoe. 2. A workshop for the District's contract operator to perform routine maintenance. 3. An enclosed materials storage area for parts and small equipment, as required to maintain the water system. The facility is located at the Tank 2 site, an approximately 2.9-acre easement granted to the District by the Eldorado Community Improvement Association (ECIA). The project was partially funded by a New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) Public Project Revolving Fund (PPRF) loan in the amount of $500,000. Remaining project costs of approximately $700,000 were funded by the District's Capital Reserve fund. 

• Completed Verano and Conchas Looop Pipeline Replacement Project. Due to the large number of line breaks in the area., the Verano and Conchas Loop Pipeline Replacement project was identified as the District's second-highest priority pipeline replacement project. The project included the replacement of approximately 9,000 feet of old and substandarad water distribution pipe, and over 200 old and failing individual household service laterals. The total cost of the project of approximately $2,000,000 was funded by a $500,000 Legislative grant, a $500,000 Water Trust Board grant/loan, and a $500,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRLF) loan. 

• Completed EAWSD Water Utility Master Plan. An up-to-date District Water Utility Master Plan (WUMP) is required to evaluate, prioritize, and price necessary capital improvements for meeting the District's critical future needs properly and objectively. As state and federal funds for water infrastructure improvements have become increasingly scarce, one of the most important criteria for obtaining such funds is project readiness for implementation as demonstrated by a complete and up-to-date project plan. In June 2021, the Board approved a Task Order to Molzen Corbin under their existing Engineering Services Contract to prepare a Water Utility Master Plan which was completed in October 2022. 

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2024

• Completed EAWSD Wastewater Planning Study. The District is acutely aware of the scarcity of long-term reliable water supplies required to meet the needs of both our community and the entire region. For this reason, the District supports current long-range water resource management planning efforts being led by the City and County of Santa Fe, which includes investigation of alternative solutions to address anticipated long-term acute shortages in reliable water supply for the region. One option that has been successfully implemented in communities across the country is collection and beneficial reuse of wastewater. Because the Eldorado community is currently served by individual septic systems, it is recognized that the cost to implement a community-wide collection and beneficial reuse system would be high. However, with reported potential capture and beneficial reuse of properly treated wastewater as high as 60%, the net benefit to the community would be significant. To assess the viability tof such a program, the Board approved a contract with HDR Engineering to prepare a Wastewater Planning Study which was completed in February 2024. The District has formed a steering committee to guide and provide oversight to the continued planning and long-term implementation of this program.​