The Chama River then flows into the Rio Grande River, which runs through Albuquerque. From there, the water is collected from a small dam and piped to the San Juan – Chama Drinking Water Treatment Plant near Paseo del Norte. There the water undergoes a process of purification.
Full Answer
Where does Albuquerque get its drinking water?
Albuquerque drinking water is a mix of both surface water and groundwater. Approximately 70% of the supply comes from the Colorado River Basin via the San Juan Chama Project. The remainder of the supply is collected from about 90 wells across Albuquerque. This water is then treated at the San Juan Chama Drinking Water Treatment Plant.
How much of Albuquerque’s groundwater needs treatment?
Groundwater makes up about 40 percent of the community’s supply, and is collected from about 90 wells across Albuquerque. “Groundwater requires no treatment,” said Bruce Thomson, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of New Mexico who has a doctorate in environmental science and engineering, during an interview in February.
Why do we need water treatment?
Drinking water sources are subject to contamination and require appropriate treatment to remove disease-causing agents. Public drinking water systems use various methods of water treatment to provide safe drinking water for their communities.
Are there any water restrictions in Albuquerque Bernalillo County?
For more information, visit the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. Summer watering restrictions are in place April 1 through Oct. 31. Learn more.
How does drinking water treatment work?
After the water has been filtered, water treatment plants may add one or more chemical disinfectants (such as chlorine, chloramine, or chlorine dioxide) to kill any remaining parasites, bacteria, or viruses.
Where does the drinking water in Albuquerque come from?
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County rely on groundwater from the Santa Fe Group Aquifer and surface water from the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project. Groundwater wells combine with the San Juan-Chama project to produce about 32 billion gallons of drinking water for the Water Authority's service area every year.
How clean is Albuquerque water?
The most recent tap water quality report for Albuquerque reported an average arsenic concentration of 2 parts per billion, with a maximum measured level of 9 parts per billion. This level is just slightly below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion.
Can you drink Albuquerque tap water?
Our water meets all federal and state standards for drinking water quality, and has also been recognized for its good taste. It is important to note that the Water Authority provides water that meets all state and federal legal standards for safe drinking water.
Is Albuquerque water chlorinated?
By law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires chlorine to be added to all drinking water for disinfection.
What aquifer does Albuquerque use?
Santa Fe Group aquifer systemAlbuquerque relies on the Santa Fe Group aquifer system, a network of interconnected groundwater deposits within the Middle Rio Grande Basin stretching beneath Albuquerque and the surrounding communities. Generally, aquifers are recharged from precipitation that filters down through sediment, Galanter said.
Is Albuquerque water fluoridated?
Supplemental fluoridation of Albuquerque's drinking water resumed on June 27, 2018. Background information about the decision to resume fluoridation, and the utility's fluoridation methodology, is included in the update from Sept.
Is Albuquerque water hard or soft?
According to data from USGS, the water in the Albuquerque metro area is rated as “hard.” Our groundwater sources are rated as “very hard.”
Do you need a water softener in Albuquerque?
Most homes in New Mexico have hard water. Without treatment, hard water can cause unnecessary damage to your pipes and dishes with mineral buildup and can even cause skin irritation.
What is the hardness of Albuquerque water?
120 PPMThe lowest hardness level comes from the most populous city in New Mexico, Albuquerque, with a hardness of 120 PPM. Based on the USGS water hardness table, a hardness of 61 to 120 PPM is considered moderate. For more information on the water hardness in specific cities, please see the table below.
Is New Mexico tap water good?
The majority of New Mexicans are provided high quality drinking water. About 90% of people in New Mexico get their water from a Community Drinking Water system. The US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) sets regulations for treating and monitoring drinking water delivered by community water systems.
How is New Mexico's water supply?
New Mexico relies on both groundwater and surface water sources, but about 87 percent of New Mexico's public water supply comes from ground water. No other southwestern state gets such a large percentage of its domestic water from groundwater sources.
HOW DO I CONTACT ALBUQUERQUE CUSTOMER SERVICE?
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HOW TO PAY BILL FOR ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM
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HOW TO START & STOP ALBUQUERQUE WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service Moving to a new house or apartment in Albuquerque means you will often need to put the water in your name wi...
How much groundwater is in Albuquerque?
Groundwater makes up about 40 percent of the community’s supply, and is collected from about 90 wells across Albuquerque. “Groundwater requires no treatment,” said Bruce Thomson, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of New Mexico who has a doctorate in environmental science and engineering, during an interview in February.
What river does the San Juan Chama project flow into?
And that’s call the San Juan Chama project. We’re diverting water from three small tributaries to the San Juan River, which subsequently flows into the Colorado River. (Then we) divert it to the Chama River, and that’s our source of surface water.”. The Chama River then flows into the Rio Grande River, which runs through Albuquerque.
What percentage of the river is purified water?
The purified waste water makes up less than 10 percent of the total annual flow of the river downstream, Thomson said.
Is there fluoride in Albuquerque water?
asked by Bianca Medina. The answer is yes and no. Last year the Albuquer que Water Utility Authority voted against adding fluoride to the city’s water. But there is still fluoride in our water because it is naturally occurring in our water supply.
Why invest money in Albuquerque water?
Second, the availability of the water supply is not a problem. This is the main reason why a lot of investors are willing to put their money into an Albuquerque water source project. The profit margin in this kind of business venture is high. Aside from the profit that you will earn from your project, you will also be helping the community to enjoy clean water free from any harmful effects brought by unhealthy water.
Why do we need a water filter in Albuquerque?
An Albuquerque water supply filter is essential if you want to drink safe, clean water for drinking, cooking, and other household uses . The city of Albuquerque has a population of over seven million, making it one of the most populous cities in New Mexico. Because of this, the Department of Water and Power (DOWP) regulates how many customers can have water services and the number of people who can receive them, as well as the quality and purity of the water provided.
What is EWG water?
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the New Mexico Environment Department, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
What are the contaminants in tap water?
During normal use, our tap water contains millions of bacteria, algae, protozoa, cysts, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that can be found in any water system. These unwanted particles are harmless to humans when they are present in the water, however, when they accumulate over time and begin to clog the filters, the entire water processing process becomes compromised. Water treatment professionals believe that it is impossible to remove all of the bacteria, viruses, and other organisms from water simply using modern technologies. This is why it is imperative to have a professional water treatment facility within striking distance in order to guarantee contaminant removal.
Why is water not required to test for cancer?
Because some of these pollutants are regulated by state law, and because scientists believe that human consumption of prescription medications can cause certain types of cancer, public water systems are not required to test for them. One type of water contaminant that has found its way into your local water supply, and has yet to have an effective safe water act passed that would regulate it, is prescription drug runoff. These drugs get flushed through our drainage systems and end up in our streams and rivers. Also, pesticides that are used on crops get washed down the downspouts into our streams and rivers and end up in our drinking water as well. There is currently no safe water act in place that would regulate prescription drug runoff.
Why is it important to have a reliable water supply?
The city of Albuquerque has been able to draw a steady amount of water from the Rio Grande River. This makes Albuquerque one of the most preferred places to have a water source because of the availability of water. In addition, the city’s tap water has a high nutrient content, unlike other cities which may have different sources of water that are not as reliable. In fact, some of the minerals found in tap water are very harmful to the health.
How does DOWP regulate water?
DOWP regulates the distribution of water in the city of Albuquerque through the delivery of water via two main means: through storm drains and through the normal city water system. If your water supply in the city of Albuquerque is contaminated or if you are experiencing any kind of problem with the water supply, you should call your local DOWP office immediately. DOWP will send a team of experts to the scene and then evaluate your home or apartment to determine if anything needs to be replaced or repaired. When the evaluation is complete and you know the cause of the problem, it is time to get a water purification system installed. These systems are very effective at cleaning your water of all the harmful contaminants that are in the tap water of many homes in the Albuquerque area.
Where does Albuquerque get its water from?
Albuquerque drinking water is a mix of both surface water and groundwater. Approximately 70% of the supply comes from the Colorado River Basin via the San Juan Chama Project. The remainder of the supply is collected from about 90 wells across Albuquerque. This water is then treated at the San Juan Chama Drinking Water Treatment Plant.
How does lead enter water in Albuquerque?
Lead enters Albuquerque's water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and can reach dangerous levels. Currently, 10% of samples analyzed for lead in Albuquerque's water are over 2 parts per billion. Though the city of Albuquerque's water quality is currently in compliance with federal regulations, EPA , CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap. Hydroviv Undersink filters are NSF/ANSI 53 certified to remove lead from drinking water.
Is Albuquerque water safe?
Though the city of Albuquerque's water quality is currently in compliance with federal regulations, EPA , CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap.
Is there arsenic in tap water in Albuquerque?
Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself. The most recent tap water quality report for Albuquerque reported an average arsenic concentration ...
When did Albuquerque get treated water?
The final pillar is the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project, which in 2008 allowed Albuquerque to drink treated surface water for the first time. Prior to the project’s inception, Albuquerque relied solely on the underground aquifer for its drinking water needs. Since 2008, the San Juan-Chama project has delivered more than 100 billion gallons of surface water for the community’s use.
When did the aquifer level rise in Albuquerque?
Data from U.S. Geological Survey monitoring wells show aquifer levels rising significantly in the Albuquerque area, starting around 2008, after decades of decline.
How much has the Colorado River aquifer risen since 2008?
Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River Supply and Demand Study, monitoring wells show aquifer levels in places have risen by as much as 15 to 20 feet since 2008, and rising levels are projected to continue for another decade or so.
What is the Water Authority rebate program?
The Water Authority’s conservation rebate program provides incentives for the installation of water-smart appliances and xerisccapes, like the one shown here. Conservation efforts have seen per capita water usage drop to 127 gallons per capita per day.
How can we use water more efficiently?
Conservation is one way of using water more efficiently and another way is to use water more than once by “polishing” wastewater and industrial effluent by finding non-potable ways to reuse it. Water Authority reuse projects are now up and running in the city’s Northeast Heights, where industrial effluent is being treated and repurposed for parks and golf courses; and in Southeast Albuquerque, where reclaimed wastewater from the Water Authority’s sewage treatment plant is being delivered to irrigation customers. Another reuse facility is planned for the city’s West Side and will be built in the next decade.
What is the Water Authority's updated strategy?
The updated strategy builds on the Water Authority’s past successes by continuing to prioritize conservation while adding storm-water capture to the utility’s supply portfolio and placing increased emphasis on re-use and watershed management.
Where is the Bear Canyon aquifer?
The Water Authority dedicated New Mexico’s first permitted aquifer storage and recovery project in November of 2014 at the Bear Canyon Arroyo in Northeast Albuquerque and made its first withdrawal of stored aquifer storage and recovery water in 2015. The Bear Canyon aquifer storage and recovery project will allow potential recharge of some 3,000 acre-feet per year via infiltration through 500 feet of soil. Larger-scale direct-injection projects are in the works.
When was the Albuquerque water treatment plant built?
47 Albuquerque’s Drinking Water Project We broke ground on the water treatment plant in August 2004. We had about six months’ worth of dirt work that we had to do. We moved about 1.5 million yards of dirt at the water treatment plant, converting an old gravel pit site into the water treatment plant. That was finished in about March 2005, then we started the full construction of the water treatment plant, with the goal of bringing the plant online in July 2008. Figure 15 shows some of the facilities that are already constructed. That is the administration building, just a small picture inside. The administration building is one of the projects that we phased into the water treatment plant so that we could occupy portions of the water treatment plant site prior to 2008. We hope to locate all of our central control for all of our water facilities at this building in October 2006. All of our reservoirs, pump stations, the new diversion facilities, all of our drinking water projects, and our existing facilities will be operated at this new administration building. Then you can see the big 200 feet tall tower. By the way, if you drive north on Interstate 25, you can see the construction of the water treatment plant. Figure 16 shows an overview of the site. This was taken several months ago. You can see the rain water from the storms that we had. The two tanks on the left are 10 million gallon storage tanks. That is where the finished water from the water plant will be stored. The other basins to the north are where the two 50 million gallons of storage are located, for a total of 100 million gallons of storage at the plant. The plant has changed a lot since March 2005. We have spent about $100 million on the plant so far. Figure 17 is a picture of the chemical building. All of the chemicals for this site will be located in a central location. There is one place where all of the chemical deliveries will be taking place. This is one of those results of September 11 that a lot of people do not talk about. We will not be able to give any tours of the facility. We will be showing people these facilities from the administration building, because EPA and the National Security Council will not allow you to take people on tours of these facilities. This is probably the best that you are ever going to see of the water treatment plant. All of the chemicals are housed in one building now, where chemicals are delivered on site. We have complete access and control of where those people are going, and they should only be in one area of the site. Figure 15. Completed administration building Figure 16. Overview of the site Figure 17. Chemical building onsite
How big is the bladder dam in Albuquerque?
43 Albuquerque’s Drinking Water Project Figure 3 is a picture of what the bladder dam looks like in the river. The dam spans 660 feet across the river, but it is built in 21 different sections. The whole point of that is to be able to (1) let the sediment through the dam, which is going to be a tremendous challenge, and (2) to protect fish species and allow fish to move freely up and down the river at the same time that we are diverting our water. This slide shows a depiction of the dam, the steel plate structure. It has supports, and then there are two bags behind the dam that are about an inch thick of rubber and reinforced steel that have air tubes to them that raise and lower the dam. You can raise or lower the dam sections all at one time or individually, like a piano. As we finished the west side and the testing of the facility, we raised the dam when there was sedimentation that occurred over the wintertime period. As you can see in Figure 3, the little island in the middle was connected before we ran this test, but it was torn apart. The whole purpose of this test was to see if sedimentation would fill up over the top of the dam, whether the air bags would be able to lift the dam with sediment on it. We raised the dam, and the island was removed. It was a very promising thing to see, not to see that the sediment would pass beyond the dam but to see that we could operate the dam in a way that would free up and move sediment. Figure 4 is the picture of the intake structure. It is about 15 or 20 feet high, and inside of that intake structure there is a trash rack in front. Those little concrete pillars are Iowa vanes that we are using to push sediment away from the dam. The intake structure takes water in as the dam is raised. We got a really good picture of what is going to happen this summer. Everyone here is aware of the huge rain storms we had, but we had a tremendous amount of sediment wash through the section. If you were out there yesterday, you could see that those Iowa veins that are about three feet high are all filled with sediment. It did help and assist to move sediment away from the intake structure. Figure 4. Diversion dam - intake screens and Iowa vanes Figure 5 shows two intake structures. One is capable of taking the water that we need. We have two so that if we have a problem with one, such as needing to clean the sediment out, we can move to the other one. Again, we have the dam section there that shows Figure 5. Diversion dam intake control gates Figure 3. Diversion dam looking west
What can hard water do?
It will leave cosmetic damage on your faucets and fixtures in the form of water stains or calcium deposits.
Is Albuquerque hard water?
That’s because Albuquerque hard water levels are higher than in most cities in the United States.
Can hard water cause a clog in the house?
However, the main problem with hard water is that, over time, it can cause damage to your appliances and start to clog your home’s plumbing, choking out water and leading to the need for major repiping work.
Does hard water affect pipes?
Of course, hard water’s negative impact isn’ t just limited to your pipes. Any fixture, faucet, or appliance— including your dishwasher, water heater, and washing machine —can be negatively impacted by hard water moving through it and scaling building up inside feeder lines and internal pipes.
Why is ground water in Albuquerque important?
Contamination not only makes the water unsafe to drink, but also reduces the total amount of ground water available to pump. The primary causes of groundwater contamination in the Albuquerque area have been septic tanks, leaking underground petroleum storage tanks, and improper handling, storage , or disposal of hazardous wastes. The older, leaking underground storage tanks in the valley and the contamination they created have largely been addressed. Once ground water is contaminated, cleanup can be extremely expensive or, in some cases, technically impossible.
What is the only source of water in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque's Sole Source of Water. Ground water is currently the sole source of water supply for the City of Albuquerque. Water beneath the Earth's surface is stored in and flows through dirt, sand, and porous, fractured rock. This sponge-like formation is referred to as an aquifer.
How is water pumped into a distribution system?
Pumping and Boosting. From each reservoir, water is pumped into the distribution system by means of booster pump stations. The booster pump stations and the reservoirs, with the help of gravity, create the pressure the system needs to make water available to the users.
How long does it take for water to return to the atmosphere?
The amount of time required to complete the cycle may be anywhere from a few hours to many centuries.
How is precipitation dispersed?
Precipitation that falls on land areas is dispersed in several ways. The greater part is temporarily retained in the topsoil near where it falls and eventually returned to the atmosphere by evaporation and plant transpiration. A portion of the water finds its way over and through the soil surface to streams.
How does the hydrologic cycle work?
Earth's hydrologic cycle is the process by which nature circulates water from the oceans through the atmosphere and returns it overland and underground back to the sea. Radiation from the sun evaporates ocean water into the atmosphere. This water vapor rises and collects, forming clouds that are transported by moving air masses. Under the proper conditions, the cloud moisture condenses and falls back to earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow---common forms of precipitation. Precipitation that falls on land areas is dispersed in several ways. The greater part is temporarily retained in the topsoil near where it falls and eventually returned to the atmosphere by evaporation and plant transpiration. A portion of the water finds its way over and through the soil surface to streams. Other water penetrates the soil surface, becoming ground water. Under the influence of gravity, both surface stream flow and ground water move downhill and may eventually discharge into the oceans. Substantial quantities of surface and underground water do return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration before reaching the ocean. The amount of time required to complete the cycle may be anywhere from a few hours to many centuries. The forces that motivate this process include solar radiation, gravity, molecular attractions, and capillarity.
How many water wells are there in Albuquerque?
Most of these customers live within the City of Albuquerque while around 10% live in the unincorporated area. The city operates 93 water wells, distributed over 200 square miles, that raise the ground water to the land surface.
How does a water treatment unit work?
Even though EPA regulates and sets standards for public drinking water, many Americans use a home water treatment unit to: 1 Remove specific contaminants 2 Take extra precautions because a household member has a compromised immune system 3 Improve the taste of drinking water
Why do people use water treatment units?
Even though EPA regulates and sets standards for public drinking water, many Americans use a home water treatment unit to: Remove specific contaminants. Take extra precautions because a household member has a compromised immune system. Improve the taste of drinking water.
What is the process of boiled water?
Distillation is a process in which impure water is boiled and the steam is collected and condensed in a separate container, leaving many of the solid contaminants behind. Disinfection. Disinfection is a physical or chemical process in which pathogenic microorganisms are deactivated or killed.
What are the steps of water treatment?
Today, the most common steps in water treatment used by community water systems (mainly surface water treatment) include: Coagulation and flocculation are often the first steps in water treatment. Chemicals with a positive charge are added to the water.
What is a water softener?
Water Softeners. A water softener is a device that reduces the hardness of the water. A water softener typically uses sodium or potassium ions to replace calcium and magnesium ions, the ions that create “hardness.”. Distillation Systems.
What is the most common type of water treatment system?
The most common types of household water treatment systems consist of: Filtration Systems. A water filter is a device which removes impurities from water by means of a physical barrier, chemical, and/or biological process. Water Softeners. A water softener is a device that reduces the hardness of the water.
What happens when chemicals are added to water?
Chemicals with a positive charge are added to the water. The positive charge of these chemicals neutralizes the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved particles in the water. When this occurs, the particles bind with the chemicals and form larger particles, called floc. Sedimentation.
