Water issues

CITY OF GRANTS, N.M. – Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks declared a state of emergency for the City of Grants on July 16. This order mandated that citizens cut back on watering their grass but was implemented because Ramah declared a state of emergency of their own due to their water table lowering. Citizens aren’t the only ones asked to cut back on their watering, the city itself has similarly cut back on watering the city’s parks.

“The water table in general is lowering, and that’s why we wanted to make the public aware of it. Be wise about using our most valuable resource – second to oxygen, water is right up there – we just need to be reminded to be careful with our precious resources,” City Manager Vanessa Chavez explained. With the heavy monsoon rains which have covered the county in water, the water tables are likely where they should be, but with a state of emergency the city is able to find extra funding to address the water issues.

Many of the issues the city has with water come from the fact that many of the pipes haven’t been replaced in 60 years.

Well no. 3

Well Number Three in the city recently became a topic of discussion for the Grants City Councilors as it began addressing the city’s water usage. The city uses submersible pumps to bring the water up, Manager Chavez explained that these types of pumps are some of the most effective at bringing water out, but because they are submersible, the city sometimes runs into issues. The pumps are heavy and lower than most nonsubmersible pumps, the city uses these because of the amount of water they can pump out.

“[Well Number three] is pulling up more sand than water, every two years we’re having to replace that submersible pump and they can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000, but the pump can only be purchased in Germany,” Manager Chavez said. Replacing the pump at that cost was a concern to Chavez, and the city decided to rehabilitate the well by re-casing the well, but that will require a smaller pump in place of the current one because it tightens the diameter of the well.

“The wells are abundant, it’s the actual pump that’s the issue. Its just the pump and different sizing of pumps and the casing of the diameter. The well itself is perfect, if one were to go out, we now have one on hand,” Manage Chavez explained. When Chavez became city manager, she ensured that there would be contingencies in place in the event of a disaster, these contingencies include having an extra pump on hand if one goes out, and another plan to use Well Number One in the event of a water crisis. “We’re being proactive now.”

Selling water

While the problem with the city’s water is not due to a lack of water and instead an issue with the pump in Well Number Three, the city does sell water outside the Cibola Industrial Park to contractors. The city does not sell any water to other governments, Manager Chavez affirmed.

“In fact I checked with our water department, we had been approached back in April by different communities who have less access to water than we do, and we denied those requests, even though the revenue of $5,000 per truckload sounded really nice. Because our finances could really use some more revenue, we had to decide that our water resource is more important than the revenue. I understand that we have one company who does buy water in the form of a tanker, so we don’t sell water to municipalities, there is a company that comes with a truck and they do get I think 500 gallons at a time. We have not restricted or cut off their contract because I understand it’s been customary for them to take these 500 gallons and its not a lot of water that is being purchased by that company,” Chavez explained about the city’s water resources.

Fixing the pipes

At the City Council meeting on July 29 the Grants City Council voted to address the piping issues across the city. It is not an uncommon experience for CODE RED, the county emergency notification system, to call and warn residents of potential water shutoffs in Grants.

The problem with the pipes is that there is too much water pressure flowing through them, which eventually causes a rupture in the aged and ailing infrastructure across the city. The council took action to procure seven Pressure Release Valves, this money is coming from the General Obligation Bonds which the city’s residents passed back in 2020.

“Please, please thank the citizens of Grants for passing this bond, because we will be using this money to replace these valves,” Manager Chavez said.

A single PRV can cost anywhere in the ballpark from $50,000 to $100,000. The GO Bond passed by residents opened up $1.5 million in funds to renovate and reconstruct the city’s water system.

A large chunk of the plan will change a water line going to Zuni Canyon that is currently a two-inch line and replace it with a six-inch line to help further economic development in Grants. The multi-use stadium that is going to be under construction at the Grants Rodeo Grounds and an unspecified economic development project in the area will greatly benefit from the expansion of this line, according to Manager Chavez. Luis Lopez, “our fantastic streets supervisor, is starting on that as soon as possible.”

This will change the pressure to residents in the Zuni Canyon area. The city will also be adding a PRV to this line which will manage the pressure “by alleviating the sudden pressure that’s coming through now. When you see these breakthroughs that are directly through the asphalt in the middle of the road, that is not a good design. We are going to start putting all of the lines on the sides of the roads to eliminate this type of issue. Its not safe, its not easy to get to, and its not easy to fix. Therefore, we asked, how can we do this more efficiently?”

Manager Chavez said, with the task of refitting the city’s infrastructure, “I look at everything as an opportunity. Its our charge to help our community now, and no one can deny that when we can’t go to a restaurant because of they don’t have water, it’s a problem.”

Manager Chavez said that she has complete confidence in city workers and are ensuring that the pipe crew and street crew will do effective and nice work. The city is currently hiring for their pipe crew.

“In my opinion, our mayor truly looks out for our city. He’s already said that if any business entity would like to come that needs a lot of water, then they need to bring some federal funds to access new areas of water. That’s how we’re protecting our water and the rates of our citizens,” Manager Chavez said.