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:
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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. |
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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 ![]()
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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.
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Note: Meeting date and time changed to the
2nd Thursdays of each month at 11:00AM.
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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.
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
August 21, 2025
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2023 Rural Water Summit |
2022 Rural Water Summit |
2021 Rural Water Summit |
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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
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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
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.
For more information, please contact the RWPO Office at (505) 722-4327.
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.
- 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.
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