Doña Ana seeks more sewers for rural areas

Associated Press
El Paso Times
August 17, 2001

LAS CRUCES -- Doña Ana County officials are working to develop a waste-water system that will eventually serve more of the county's rural areas.

The county commission conducted a work session this week to discuss possible residential and commercial monthly rates the county will charge to provide sewage service to areas of Doña Ana County that don't have it now.

County officials have estimated that as many as 20,000 homes in the county do not have wastewater service. They said that number should be reduced by 3,500 households within the next 18 months.

"It will be the largest shift ever done in New Mexico from septic tanks to a central collection system," said County Attorney Tom Figart, who along with County Utilities Director Jerry Leyendecker and county staff members made a presentation to the commission Tuesday.

"The good result of this is going to be increased health and safety of county residents," Figart said.

Several waste-water projects are under construction or will be in the next six months, financed by loans and grants.

The county has completed a waste-water plant near the Santa Teresa Industrial Business Park, and construction is under way on a system that will serve two southern New Mexico colonias. Work is scheduled to begin later this month on a system that will provide service for Rincon, Salem and Ogas.

In all, the county has about $58 million of funding for water projects. The money comes primarily from the Border Environment Cooperation and the North America Development Bank, Manning said.

"This is impressive that the county has $58 million in projects," Figart said. "It's like a new business that's going to take off, but were all going to have to be patient for it to be all finished."

On Tuesday, the commission was presented with a proposal for customers to pay monthly wastewater bills that would range from $21 to $25, plus a connection charge for each residence or business.