NEW MEXICO: PUEBLO OF TESUQUE

   Safe Drinking Water Act Funds Help Construct

   Protection Structures for At-Risk Tribal Water

   Supplies


   Background

   Location: The Pueblo of Tesuque is located in north central New Mexico, north of Santa
   Fe. The pueblo covers  17,000 acres and has a Native American population of 400.

   Water Supply: The Pueblo of Tesuque is totally dependent on ground water. The
   Community Services Department maintains seven wells.

   Source Water Assessment: In July 2001, the Community Services Department (CSD),
   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 five
   public water supply systems owned by the pueblo. The Main Pueblo community water
   supply system, the Camel Rock Casino non-community water supply system, the Tribal
   Administrative Complex non-community water supply system, and the Flea Market non-
   community water supply system were determined to have a high susceptibility rating.
   The Trailer Village community water supply system and the North Pueblo community
   water supply system were determined to have a medium  susceptibility to contamination.

   Priority Contamination Threats

   The major threat to the pueblo's drinking water supply is from single family septic
   systems and transportation corridors that are within the source water protection areas.
   Abandoned water supply wells and above ground storage tanks were also identified as a
   potential threat to water quality.

   Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan

   In 2002, the Pueblo of Tesuque, working with the New Mexico Rural Water Association's
   Tribal Source Water  Protection specialist developed and implemented an EPA approved
   Wellhead Protection  (WHP) program. The CSD is the lead tribal agency responsible for
   implementing the WHP program and works closely with area stakeholders on source
   water protection.

   Management Measures

   The CSD, working with the tribe's environmental program, 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)                     816F10054                           January 2010

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       •   Installed 4' X 4' concrete pads around each well head to divert runoff away from
          well;

       •   Installed/repaired security fencing around all public drinking water wells; and

       •   Installed plastic lining and gravel overlays to control rodents around well
          structures.

   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:
   Melvin Martinez
   Facilities Director
   (505) 955-7712
   mmartinez(S)pueblooftesuque.org
Office of Water (4606M)                        816F10054                               January 2010

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