NEW MEXICO: RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION AND
TRIBAL LANDS
Rural Water Association Provides Technical
Assistance
Background
Location: The New Mexico Rural Water Association (NMRWA) provides the highest quality
training and technical assistance to rural water and wastewater utilities throughout New Mexico,
and represents the legislative and regulatory interests of our members.
Water Supply: EPA Region 6 has been providing Safe Drinking Water Act tribal set aside funds
to support a NMRWA Tribal Source Water Protection (TSWP) Specialist to work with tribes on
developing and implementing source water protection. The cooperative agreement requires the
TSWP Specialist to develop and implement five protection programs and to revisit twelve
existing tribal protection programs each year as funding allows.
Source Water Assessments: Tribal owned public water supply systems for which EPA has a
trust relationship are eligible to receive technical assistance from the TSWP Specialist. Tribal
systems receiving technical assistance are also required to have a completed source water
assessment and to use the assessment to prioritize protection activities while working with the
TSWP Specialist. The TSWP Specialist and other Tribal staff work cooperatively to identify
highly susceptible drinking water supplies.
Priority Contamination Threats
Private septic systems, domestic wells, abandoned wells and roadways/highways are the most
prevalent contaminant source identified as a concern by the Tribes.
Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan
The NMRWA TSWP Specialist works with the tribal drinking water and environmental protection
staff to institutionalize source water protection at the local level. As needed, other technical
assistance providers may be called upon to assist in implementing or designing a source water
protection management practice.
Management Measures
The NMRWA Tribal Source Water Protection Program encourages local interest and education
about the water system, water resources, and overall community health. This community
capacity building allows tribal water operators, environmental managers, officials and other
community members to take ownership of their water system and to view protection efforts as
part of their daily responsibilities. Source water protection committees formed under this
program are dynamic, functional groups that take on the responsibility of providing safe and
clean drinking water to their community.
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10027 January 2010
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A large amount of the TSWP Specialist's time is devoted to conducting outreach and education
to the Tribal population about the importance of protecting drinking water:
• Outreach: The TSWP makes formal presentations about the need for source water
protection to Tribal environmental and water department staff, tribal community
members and to Tribal Councils as requested; and
• Education in tribal schools: Working through local schools, the TSWP makes
presentations to elementary and secondary education classes. The focus of the
presentations is on ensuring safe drinking water quality and quantity for tribal
communities.
The TSWP Specialist is also inventorying all Class V wells located in source water protection
areas. The initiative, which is jointly funded by EPA's Underground Injection Control Program,
involves the use of Personal Digital Assistants, known as 'PDAs', that have been specially
modified for use in the Class V inventory process and will include electronic information on well
owner, geographic location, and photographs. This inventory will be used by Region 6 to identify
all Class V wells on Tribal lands that need to be permitted.
Contingency Planning
Not Applicable
Measuring Program Effectiveness
Program effectiveness is evaluated through quarterly progress reports and occasional site visits.
For further information, contact:
Matt Holmes, Executive Director
New Mexico Rural Water Association (NMRWA)
(505)884-1301
matt@nmrwa.orq
Tim Wellman
Tribal Source Water Protection Specialist
New Mexico Rural Water Association (NMRWA)
(505) 884-1031
tim@nmrwa.org
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10027 January 2010
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