October 2023 Update on Recent Projects. We are still finding excess silt in our water delivery system. The infiltration gallery which cleans the water is heavily silted in and needs to be replaced. Currently, we are approaching funding sources for $35,000 to replace the infiltration gallery. We also need a new and larger water storage tank. Our current tank (over 50 years old) has interior rust spots and is too small to service our community. The Board is seeking NM Capital Outlay (Legislative) monies to replace the tank. A new 20,000 gallon water tank, installed, costs somewhere near $100,000. There are loan monies available but the Board does not want to encumber the community with additional debt. We currently are paying off a $150,000 loan to the NM finance authority for the newly completed treatment plant next to the water tank. Jim G.
June 2023 Emergency Notice To Community Water Users. This past month we have struggled, as many of you have noticed, with silt in the domestic water. We have flushed the system but the silt builds up again. This means 1) We have a break in the underground line or, 2) The infiltration gallery is entirely silted in. We are currently addressing both issues and will keep you posted. Many of us have had to let our water run to get clear water to our households. If you have gotten a bill for “overuse”, ignore it and just pay the base monthly rate. Theresa Mitchell, our treasurer, has been made aware of the situation and will forgive excess water use during this period. Again, we are working hard to address this issue and will keep you posted. Jim G.
March 26, 2023. Yesterday was the Annual Domestic Water meeting. Two new requests for membership were approved as well as a water storage system for the San Cristobal Fire Department. SC resident, Carey Smith, was introduced as an intern for the system’s water operator. During this next year, he will work with Jim to learn the system and acquire his NM operator certification. The community is grateful for Carey’s interest and commitment. Priorities for the 2023 year are: 1) replace a PR (pressure reducing) valve on Eric Von Dorp’s property; 2) implement a Flush Day where water will be allowed to flow out all the hydrants to remove the silt accumulated in the distribution line; 3) find funding to replace the valley’s water tank; 4) replace damaged meter lids; and 5) complete the insulation of the new treatment vault. Theresa Mitchell, Secretary-Treasurer, presented financial reports for both the Domestic Water and the SC Community Center. These will be posted soon on the website.
The Board wanted to acknowledge the following who volunteered their service to the Domestic Water System this past year. Phil Poirier, who provided invaluable technical support on the completion of the new water treatment vault. Due to his technical expertise, a variety of start-up problems were resolved. Also, the Board wanted to acknowledge and thank the four Horsemen of San Cristobal. These were the individuals who hiked miles up the canyon, and in frigid water, removed a dead horse from the San Cristobal Creek. They were Tobias Duncan, Kevin Clayton, David Gilroy and Jeff Ogburn. Our sincere gratitude to all the above who volunteered their services to help provide safe and reliable drinking water to our valley.
October, 29, 2022. The San Cristobal Water Operator was notified by the Taos County Livestock inspector that the owner of the horse mentioned below was going to remove the animal from the stream. Unfortunately, a member of the horse owner’s family was dealing with a serious health issue and the removal was delayed. So, three San Cristobal community members (Tobias Duncan, Kevin Clayton and David Gilroy) along with a friend from Lama (Jeff Ogburn) volunteered to remove the horse from the stream. By 2 PM this afternoon, the horse was removed and a buffer was put in place to keep remnants of the animal from flowing into the water. A debt of gratitude is owed these four gentlemen for their generosity and hard work in keeping our source water safe for both the domestic and acequia use.
October 24, 2022. Winter is setting in and construction on the new treatment plant is completed with the exception of a few more interior sheetrock panels. With the work of Carey Smith, community member, we now have a timer that fills the water tank daily. The increase of chlorine in the water is due to a dead horse (hunting accident) upstream from the infiltration gallery (a good 2.5 miles upstream). We are working with the SC Ditch Association and the Taos County Livestock inspector to have the horse removed. Fortunately, with the cold weather, the carcass is frozen. Our residual (free) chlorine in the system is 0.45 which is excellent. We like to keep it between 0.4 and 0.6.
Remember to winterize your system if you leave for any length of time. If you need your water turned off, please call me at 776-8450. Jim
NM Environment Department 2016 Sanitary Survey of SCMDWCA San Cristobal 2016 Sanitary Survey 7.5.16
San Cristobal Mutual Domestic Water Consumers 