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Grant: $1,011,000 |
Outline of Need: It was determined in 2001 that the small town of Sunland Park, New Mexico was in need of upgrading its wastewater treatment plant. The existing treatment plant needed to be expanded from 600,000 gallons per day to a new capacity of 1.2 million gallons per day, and needed sludge handling facilities, increased aeration facilities, odor control facilities, and ultraviolet disinfection. |
The odor control facilities is a major need because of the stench that is being produced from the wastewater treatment plant. Also, because of the age of the wastewater treatment plant, it was in danger of polluting the Rio Grande river and the near by water shed. These improvements will provide the community with an adequate and safe wastewater treatment plant while maintaining reasonable rates for the large percentage of low-income residents residing in the area.
In summary, this community needed the expansion because the old wastwater system was at capacity and in danger of polluting the Rio Grande and the water table. Because the community is one of the fastest growing ones in the state of New Mexico, the facility needed to be enlarged as quickly as possible.
How Rural Development Helped:
In August 2001, the bid opening for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project was held. However, there were cost overruns in the amount of $1,011,000 to complete the base bid of the project. Rural Development came up with the needed funding from the Colonias Set Aside program. This construction and opening of the new facility wastewater treatment could not have come at a better time. During the construction of the new facilities, the old facility failed and there was an accidential discharge of raw sewage, which caused the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a warning to the City of Sunland Park. Because of the construction of the new facility, it is felt that there will no longer be any more raw sewage discharges into the environment.
The Results:
The new facilities will help the City of Sunland Park meet the needs of existing residents and will accommodate future population growth. Additionally, they will help the City meet environmental requirements and regulations.
Pictured, above: (L) Tour of new wastewater treatment plant with (L to R) Sunland Park Mayor Ruben Segura, Sunland Park Wastewater Treatment Facility Operations Manager Toby Alvarado and Rural Development Housing Programs Administrator Art Garcia. (R) Ribbon cutting in front of new wastewater treatment plant with (L to R) Linda M. Hutto of Tatsch Construction (which built the new system); Rural Development Housing Programs Administrator Art Garcia; Brian Brooks, New Mexico State Finance Authority (the State provided an additional $900,000 to complete the project); New Mexico State Director Jeff Condrey; Sunland Park Mayor Ruben Segura; Sunland Mayor Pro Tem Maricela Monsivaiz; Jerry Paz, Chief Engineer of Engineer's Inc., who designed the system. (C) Rural Development New Mexico State Director Jeff Condrey receives a plaque in thanks from Sunland Park Mayor Ruben Segura for the assistance that USDA Rural Development has given to Sunland Park for its project.
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