Water - 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:

RWPO and standing partners will be having a workshop with board members to discuss SB1 Regional Water System Resiliency Act as an option for the Authority. Next regular board meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
NWNMCOG Conference Room
106 West Aztec Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301

MEETING LINK

NWNM Utility Authority Board Meeting Agenda, June 24, 2025
File Size:	199 kb
File Type:	pdf

September 2, 2022: Joint Powers Agreement ("JPA") group meeting. Date of official authorization of the NWNMUA as a special district entity.

NWNMUA FY2026-2030 ICIP Priorities
File Size:	91 kb
File Type:	pdf

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

REGIONAL WATER COMMONS

These “coffee hour” 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 Meeting:

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Teams Meeting Link

Regional Water Commons Agenda, March 20, 2025
File Size:	217 kb
File Type:	pdf

Note: Meeting date and time changed to the
2nd Thursdays of each month at 11:00AM.

Past meeting agenda and presentation slides can be accessed.
Meetings are recorded on the Microsoft Teams platform.
Links to past meetings are included in each agenda packets, including minutes, etc.

Previous RWC Meeting:
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Meeting Recording

RWC Meeting Agenda September 18, 2024
File Size:	200 kb
File Type:	pdf

NMED Follow Up Workshop Presentation Slides
File Size:	853 kb
File Type:	pdf

RURAL WATER SUMMIT

McKinley County and its working partners, the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, the Regional Water Planning Organization, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, the New Mexico Environment Department and the Southwest Environmental Finance Center, continue to organize and facilitate this annual event to provide crucial information for our regional small water systems.

Regional small water systems have struggled for decades to get the support and funding needed to get local capital infrastructure projects off the shelves. The County's first rural water summit was in August 2021 that created an avenue for local leadership, special districts, working partners and state agencies to meet and discuss issues with operational and management of small water systems, including funding strategies and opportunities. These summits also provided an opportunity for small water systems to directly connect with state agencies and programs that can provide the necessary data or resources to get projects funded.

A special thanks to all the partners for supporting the County’s initiative to either regionalize its small water systems and/or to develop a regional water collaboration program that benefits all special districts and local governments.

5th Annual rural water summit
wednesday, august 27, 2025
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

San juan county fairgrounds, multi-use building
#41 road 5568, Farmington, New Mexico 87401

4th Annual Rural Water Summit (Grants, New Mexico)
August 21, 2025

RWS Save the Date
File Size:	860 kb
File Type:	pdf

4th Annual Rural Water Summit Agenda Final
File Size:	318 kb
File Type:	pdf

Rural Water Summit Sign-In Sheet
File Size:	557 kb
File Type:	pdf

4th Annual RWS Conference Booklet
File Size:	6501 kb
File Type:	pdf

NM State Regulatory Compliance Poster
File Size:	355 kb
File Type:	pdf

Dealing With Water Insecurity in NM_John Roderick, NMED
File Size:	912 kb
File Type:	pdf

Water Security Planning Act_Andrew Erdmann, OSE/ISC
File Size:	14801 kb
File Type:	pdf

Systems Road Mapping_Ryan Magee, SWEFC
File Size:	12300 kb
File Type:	pdf

Regional Collaboration & Building Partnerships_Blanca Surgeon, RCAC
File Size:	1458 kb
File Type:	pdf

Asset Management for Small Systems_Shannon Pepper, SWEFC
File Size:	3474 kb
File Type:	pdf

Financial Management_Karen Pereira, RCAC
File Size:	528 kb
File Type:	pdf

Safe Drinking Water Act & System Resiliency_Anders Lundahl, NMED
File Size:	1479 kb
File Type:	pdf

2023 Rural Water Summit

2022 Rural Water Summit

2021 Rural Water Summit

2023 RWS Agenda
File Size:	281 kb
File Type:	pdf

2023 RWS Master PowerPoint
File Size:	38581 kb
File Type:	pdf

2023 RWS Conference Booklet
File Size:	10061 kb
File Type:	pdf

2022 RWS Agenda
File Size:	183 kb
File Type:	pdf

2022 RWS Master PowerPoint
File Size:	10158 kb
File Type:	pdf

2022 RWS Conference Booklet
File Size:	4351 kb
File Type:	pdf

2021 RWS Agenda
File Size:	207 kb
File Type:	pdf

2021 RWS Master PowerPoint
File Size:	5840 kb
File Type:	pdf

2021_rws_agenda_packet.pdf
File Size:	2418 kb
File Type:	pdf

2021 RWS Conference Booklet
File Size:	6435 kb
File Type:	pdf

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

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

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

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

RWPO is coordinating with the New Mexico Environment Department's Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group and the UNM's Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SWEFC) to schedule the next small water systems training in:

DFA/OSA CAPACITY BUILDING
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025
8:00am - 5:00pm
UNM-GALLUP AUDITORIUM (Calvin Hall)
705 Gurley Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301

SCHOOL OF OPERATORS
JULY 23-24, 2025
8:00am - 5:00pm
MCKINLEY COUNTY TRAINING CENTER (Courthouse)
207 West Hill Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301

ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN TRAINING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025
9:00am - 4:00pm
UNM-GALLUP STUDENT SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY CENTER
(newer building next to Gurley Hall)
705 Gurley Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301
REGISTER

LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY COMPLIANCE
Lead service line inventory and replacement requirements. All public water systems are required to investigate, identify and track service line materials.

All construction & plumbing codes, permits, and existing records pertaining to service lines connecting structures to the distribution system,
All water system maps & records, including each service connection, meter installation records, past capital improvements, and std. operating procedures,
All inspections and records of distribution system materials, and
Any resource, information, or identification method provided or required by the State to assess service line materials.

If lead has been identified:

Develop an action plan to mitigate any impacts by installing certified filters and replace service lines immediately.
Inform your community on results of findings and action plans to replace materials. These should also be publicly accessible.

For more information, please contact the RWPO Office at (505) 722-4327.

LSLI Workshop Agenda September 18, 2024
File Size:	141 kb
File Type:	pdf

Lead Service Line Inventory Presentation
File Size:	2063 kb
File Type:	pdf

Service Line Inventory Compliance Guide
File Size:	1531 kb
File Type:	pdf

Service Line Inventory Fact Sheet
File Size:	1305 kb
File Type:	pdf

Lead Service Line Inventory Worksheet Template
File Size:	1622 kb
File Type:	xlsx

Lead Service Line Inventory Template
File Size:	1604 kb
File Type:	xlsx

LCRR Replacement Plan Template
File Size:	233 kb
File Type:	pdf

LCRR Probabilistics Modeling Guide
File Size:	547 kb
File Type:	pdf

LCRR Predictive Modeling Worksheet
File Size:	136 kb
File Type:	pdf

Community Systems Schools & Childcare Facilities Certification
File Size:	220 kb
File Type:	pdf

DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2027