Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan

Appendix 8-A. Steering Committee Review of the 2004 Strategies
Page 18 of 24
2004
Strategy
Name
Water Quality
R5-1—
Mitigate
Septic Tank
Impacts
(A-26, A-47)
R5-2—
Improved
Water Quality
Sampling
and Testing
(A-47)
2015
rankings
Complete a
Progress b
Priority c
Strategy Description from Chapter 10.2 of 2004 Plan
Y 3 4 In some areas there is a potential health risk to water users or
a contamination risk to the ground water resulting from
conventional septic systems. It is recommended that, where
such a potential health risk exists, conventional septic systems
be replaced by the construction of new or expanded
centralized or distributed wastewater treatment systems,
including wetlands, or by the use of advanced technology or
re-siting for on-site wastewater treatment.
Y 4 4 It is recommended that the water testing and sampling
capabilities be significantly upgraded. The additional testing
capabilities should include all of the biological, chemical and
radiological threats to public and environmental health that are
described in existing state and national water quality guides. In
addition, special sampling and testing programs are needed to
identify any contaminants that may be introduced into the
water supply system. In addition to upgrading the quality of
testing of potable water, it is important to improve the quality of
testing of wastewater, storm water, and large-scale greywater.
Many of these may be continuous automatic testing programs
and they may require advanced techniques, which might be
developed in cooperation with the national laboratories, state
universities and private industry.
2015 Steering Committee Comments
The Valencia County Master Plan study looked at septic
tank impacts. Bernalillo County has increased inspections
of homes with septic (NMED regulations). Bernalillo
County has initiated regulations.
Since 2004, storm water and Rio Grande water quality
monitoring has increased. However, data reporting to the
public needs improvement. New biological, chemical and
radiological threats are expensive to test for, much less
treat, requiring funds.
Water quality treatment system upgrades (or new
construction) to bring water to drinking water standards is
needed for rural communities.
a Y = Yes, N = No, S = started
b Progress: 1 = Not effective, 5 = Very effective
c Priority: 1 = Low priority; 5 = High priority
Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan 2017