NEW MEXICO: PUEBLO OF ZUNI
Source Water Protection Program for New
Mexico's Largest Pueblo
Background
Location: The Pueblo of Zuni is the largest of New Mexico's 19 pueblos. Located in west-
central New Mexico, the Zuni Reservation encompasses approximately 584,564 acres of
land. Within the village and outlying Black Rock community, the tribe's population is
11,092 (as of January 2001).
Water Supply: The Pueblo of Zuni is totally dependent on ground water. The Zuni Water
Department maintains nine wells (two in Black Rock) and five storage tanks that provide
drinking water to the entire area.
Source Water Assessment: In January 2001, the Zuni Environmental Protection
Program (ZEPP), Zuni Water Department (ZWD), University of New Mexico's
Environmental Finance Center and the EPA Region 6 Tribal Source Water Assessment
Team completed a source water assessment for the two public water supply systems
owned by the pueblo. The Zuni pueblo community water supply system was determined
to have a low susceptibility rating and the Black Rock (IMS) community water supply
system was determined to have a medium susceptibility to contamination. The Zuni
Pueblo Source Water Assessments were updated in September 2006 with no
substantive changes.
Priority Contamination Threats
The major threat to the pueblo's drinking water supply is microbial contamination from
residential septic systems within the source water protection areas. Abandoned water
supply wells and above ground fuel storage tanks were also identified as a threat to
water quality.
Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan
The Pueblo of Zuni developed and implemented an EPA approved Wellhead Protection
(WHP) program in 1995. The ZEPP is the lead tribal agency responsible for
implementing the WHP program and works closely with the ZWD on source water
protection.
Management Measures
The ZEPP, working with the ZWD, used the completed source water assessments to
prioritize protection activities. Using Safe Drinking Water Act Set-Aside funds provided
by EPA Region 6, the tribe implemented the following measures to protect their drinking
water supply:
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10026 January 2010
-------
• Installed 4' X 4' concrete pads around each well head to divert runoff away from
well;
• Sculptured area around all well heads to divert storm water runoff away from well
area;
• Installed/repaired security fencing around all public drinking water wells;
• Developed a Source Water Protection ordinance for consideration by the Zuni
Tribal Council;
• Conducted outreach and education program for source water protection using
tribal radio station and posters; and
• Developed well plugging and abandonment procedures for Zuni Tribal Council
approval.
Contingency Planning
The EPA is responsible for working with the tribes to ensure that drinking water supplies
are restored in the event of a disruption of service. The Region 6 Tribal Drinking Water
program will provide technical assistance and funding to ensure an uninterupted drinking
water supply for tribes that need assistance.
Measuring Program Effectiveness
EPA Region 6 Tribal Drinking Water program works with the New Mexico Rural Water
Association to ensure that tribes maintain a viable Source Water Protection program.
The NMRWA Tribal Source Water Protection program Circuit Rider visits with the tribes
to provide assistance and training on Source Water Protection and then reports
implementation progress to EPA.
For further information, contact:
Director
Zuni Source Water Protection Program
(505) 782-5852
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10026 January 2010
------- |