Regional Water Planning & Development Organization - NWNMCOG

Understanding the challenges faced by small water systems is key to identifying planning strategies and solutions that improve access to high-quality water and reliable services and support. With the implementation of the McKinley County Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan and the anticipated completion of the NGWSP line, local and regional planning initiatives stress the need to circle back to previous conversations on regionalization. Despite the challenges of today, the County is moving forward with local investments in preparing water systems to formulate the regionalization process.

NAVAJO GALLUP WATER SUPPLY PROJECT

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) is a major water infrastructure project to increase access to safe drinking water and to improve the quality of life for rural communities.

The NGWSP will convey surface water from the San Juan River to eastern and northern Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the City of Gallup and McKinley County. There will be:

Over 300 miles of pipeline (10- to 54-inch diameter),
21 pumping stations,
2 water treatment plants,
Storage tanks, and
Transmission powerlines

MAPS

NGWSP San Juan Lateral Reach Map
File Size:	2805 kb
File Type:	pdf

NGWSP Gallup Regional Water System
File Size:	536 kb
File Type:	pdf

NGWSP Reach Phasing Map
File Size:	164 kb
File Type:	pdf

PLANNING DOCUMENTS

NGWSP Environmental Impact Statement
File Size:	16423 kb
File Type:	pdf

Small Water Systems Regionalization Plan
File Size:	6795 kb
File Type:	pdf

SWS Regionalization Plan, Phase IIB Summary Report
File Size:	3808 kb
File Type:	pdf

PRESENTATION SLIDES

NGWSP Bringing Water to the Diné, June 2024
File Size:	5031 kb
File Type:	pdf

NGWSP Cutter Lateral, November 2016
File Size:	5145 kb
File Type:	pdf

Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project
File Size:	4630 kb
File Type:	pdf

WATER REGIONALIZATION INITIATIVE

MCKINLEY WATER REGIONALIZATION INITIATIVE
McKinley County and stakeholders have collectively

McKinley County and its partners developed the McKinley County Small Rural Water Systems Appraisal Level Investigation report in 2015 that recognizes the status and needs of each system and which potential approach and project design will greatly benefit each community.

This appraisal study is pursuant to the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. §§ 2401-2409 (Supp. 2011)) and appraisal criteria included in Reclamation’s Rural Water Supply Program interim final rule (43 C.F.R. Part 404) (Rule) (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], 2009).

The City of Gallup, McKinley County and Small Water Systems (more commonly referred to as Special Districts) are planning to tap into the regional NGWSP transmission network to acquire and access long-term sustainable water supply. Small water systems in McKinley CO are non-tribal communities that offer drinking water and wastewater services to respective communities via water and sewer infrastructure build-out. More often then none, infrastructure in these communities are aging and in critical need of improvements.

RWPO's goal is to connect with every rural community in the northwest region to assist with securing funding sources to replace and improve existing assets through regional collaboration and coordination.

PLANNING DOCUMENTS

Small Rural Water Systems Appraisal Level Report
File Size:	21746 kb
File Type:	pdf

Gallup Regional Chapters Water Plan
File Size:	2135 kb
File Type:	pdf

NGWSP Regulatory Compliance White Paper
File Size:	360 kb
File Type:	pdf

Gallup/NGWSP Water Commons Drought Contingency Plan
File Size:	1588 kb
File Type:	pdf

SMALL WATER SYSTEMS LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY REPORTS

NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO UTILITY AUTHORITY

Next Board Meeting:

RWPD and standing partners are currently working with (system) Board Members to discuss and outline work plan to reorganize the "JPA" under the (Senate Bill 1) Regional Water System Resiliency Act, as a beneficial option for regional small water system communities.

NWNMUA BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, February 17, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

PINNACLE BANK BOARDROOM
107 East Aztec Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301

MEETING LINK

Northwest NM Utility Authority, Board Meeting Agenda, February 17, 2026
File Size:	251 kb
File Type:	pdf

September 2022 - The officially signing of the Joint Powers Agreement between member systems - Gamerco WSD, Yahtahey WSD, and White Cliffs MDWUA.

Steps Toward Forming a SB1 Entity
File Size:	196 kb
File Type:	pdf

Senate bill 1 — regional small systems resiliency act

preNew Mexico Legislature enacted the Regional Water System Resiliency Act (Senate Bill 1, 56th Legislature, Chapter 4, Laws 2023), effective July 1, 2023, providing for the creation of Regional Utility Authorities as political subdivisions of the state of New Mexico. The Act authorizes two or more water or wastewater utilities to form a Regional Utility Authority and consolidate governance, assets, liabilities, and water rights into a single entity.

The Northwest New Mexico Utility Authority was originally formed through a 'joint powers agreement' process where the three (3) member systems — Gamerco Water & Sanitation District, Yahtahey Water & Sanitation District, White Cliffs Mutual Domestic Water Users Association — 'joined' while still functioning independently of one another. While this process helped achieve a certain level of combined services, the functionality of the Authority only provided oversight and not actual system management and operations. Currently, there are four (4) board meetings held each month, two (2) separate accountants and accounting systems, hiring of four (4) separate auditors, filings four (4) annual audits, manage two separate billing systems, and over an estimated $18 million in total infrastructure funding needs. The estimated total infrastructure needs throughout the northwest region is an estimated $100 million.

Under this SB1 reorganization, the Authority will only require the contracting of one accountant, one bookkeeper/ customer service, two certified water/wastewater operators, one annual audit filing, one monthly board meeting, and automated meter readings and billing systems (via online software). Other regional small water systems have the option to join the Authority or access much needed services through agreements and contracts.

2026 SB1 PLANNING SCHEDULE & Updates
• Each member system must officially agree/approve Pre-Hearing Resolutions to convert the JPA under SB1.

• Hold two (2) community public hearings.
♦ Public Hearing 1 was held on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
♦ Public Hearing 2 was held Saturday, February 7, 2026.

• Board members of each member system must hold work sessions with the Technical Assistance Providers:
♦ Work Session 1 was held on Saturday, December 7, 2025.
♦ Work Session 2 was held on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
♦ Work Session 3 to be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 9am to Noon (Gamerco Church of God .

Next Steps:
•  Each member system to officially approve the Post-Hearing Resolutions at the February/March board meetings.
• (NWNMUA) Adopt joint SB1 Resolution, following the public hearings.
•  Adopt resolution to execute the Authority's revised  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
•  File with the NM Office of the Secretary of State.
• Receive final CERTIFICATE approval of the Authority's re-organization under SB1.
• Celebrate!
• Start the Authority's work as a newly reorganized entity.

REGIONAL WATER COMMONS

These virtual meetings are intended to keep all small water systems and communities informed on latest news, updates, events, training, and funding opportunities. There will be open discussions on issues and needs. This is a line of support and communication to develop efficient planning strategies.

Next Water Commons Meeting:

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Teams Meeting Link

Regional Water Commons Meeting Agenda January 8, 2026
File Size:	317 kb
File Type:	pdf

Previous RWC Meeting:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Meeting Recording

September 19, 2025 Meeting Agenda
File Size:	306 kb
File Type:	pdf

September 19, 2025 Presentation Slides
File Size:	1368 kb
File Type:	pdf

NMFA TAP UPDATES

In October 2025, several small water systems in the McKinley/Cibola regions were approved to received professional services for free, under the New Mexico Finance Authority's Technical Assistance Program (TAP). Made possible with legislative funding and support, NMFA contracted with professional service contractors in engineering, accounting, facilitation and legal.

The Northwest NM Utility Authority member systems were approved for such services:

"JPA" - Facilitation Services (SB1 water regionalization efforts) and Accounting Services (for combined finances).
Gamerco - Engineering Services to develop water and wastewater PER.
Yahtahey - Facilitation/Accounting Services.
White Cliffs - Engineering Services to develop water and wastewater PER.

Other regional systems that were eligible for these services include:

Allison Domestic Water Users Association (Gallup, NM) - Engineering Services to develop a Wastewater PER.
Whispering Cedars Mutual Domestic Water Users Association (Jamestown, NM) - Engineering Services to develop PERs.
San Rafael Water & Sanitation District - Engineering Services to develop a Wastewater PER.

PROJECT UPDATES

Allison Wastewater PER - draft completed; currently in public review period.

• Environmental Information Document completed for both water and wastewater PERs.

EID Public Hearing
Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6:00pm,
at the City of Gallup Council Chambers

DRAFT__Allison Wastewater Preliminary Engineering Report & Environmental Information Document
File Size:	27976 kb
File Type:	pdf

DRAFT__Allison WW PER, Appendix A - EID Report
File Size:	24628 kb
File Type:	pdf

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Here's a peek of upcoming meetings and events. If you would like to add an event, please email [email protected].

COG/RWPD is coordinating with the New Mexico Environment Department's Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group and the UNM's Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SWEFC) to organize and facilitate the next in-person training for small water systems and local and tribal governments.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN TRAINING

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
9:00am to 4:00pm

ERP Workshop Presentation Slides, February 11, 2026
File Size:	4998 kb
File Type:	pdf

ERP Checklist
File Size:	312 kb
File Type:	pdf

ERP Template (Fill-able)
File Size:	188 kb
File Type:	docx

Water System Outage Checklist
File Size:	804 kb
File Type:	pdf

STATE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

All small public water systems are required by law to follow and adhere to state and federal regulatory compliance requirements, based on how each entity was established and is registered with the State of New Mexico. Systems must remain in regulatory compliance with the following state agencies that manage and provide oversight in specific areas.

NM Secretary of State 
Attorney General’s Office
Department of Finance & Administration - Local Government Division
State Auditor’s Office
NM Environment Department
NM Tax and Revenue
Office of the State Engineer

You can access and download a copy of the poster-size State Regulatory Compliance Calendar below.

Executive Order 2013-006
File Size:	247 kb
File Type:	pdf

CCR Guide for New Mexico Water Systems
File Size:	1605 kb
File Type:	pdf

Water Quality Monitoring Schedule Instructions
File Size:	1223 kb
File Type:	pdf

Regulatory Reporting Requirements (poster)
File Size:	357 kb
File Type:	pdf

Regulatory Reporting Requirements (tabloid)
File Size:	252 kb
File Type:	pdf