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Map: Residents of El Rancho, Jaconita, Jacona, and Pojoaque west of US-84/285 along the NM-502 corridor must file their well election forms by Dec. 18 to be considered for water distribution lines during the next phase of Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System construction.

SANTA FE, N.M., Nov. 12, 2026—Santa Fe County is hosting an open house to help residents with the process of connecting to the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System, Nov. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the El Rancho Center, located at 386 County Road 84, at the southeast corner of CR84 and Entrada El Rancho. There will be no formal presentation at the open house. Spanish translation will be available.

The meeting is for residents in El Rancho, Jaconita, Jacona, and Pojoaque west of US-84/285 along the NM-502 corridor, because construction of water distribution lines is moving forward in that area (see map). Project engineers are deciding where to put these waterlines based on the interest of residents.

Santa Fe County will reach out to specific neighborhoods with important information and deadlines as construction moves to different areas for the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System, a Bureau of Reclamation project.

Santa Fe County mailed over 700 letters to residents in El Rancho, Jaconita, Jacona, and Pojoaque west of US-84/285 along the NM-502 corridor, alerting them to the deadline for this area. These residents need to file a well election form by Dec. 18 to be considered for the placement of water distribution lines. Distribution lines are the lines that will connect your residence to the larger water transmission lines.

Santa Fe County staff, Office of the State Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation, and other project officials will be at the open house to help residents update their well election forms and answer questions about the process.

Attendees to the open house can ask about specific circumstances, get help with the well election form, and learn how to file the form with the district court. For all residents located in El Rancho, Jaconita, Jacona, and Pojoaque west of US-84/285 along the NM-502 corridor, the deadline to file your forms is Dec. 18. This deadline gives the Santa Fe County project managers time to work with the Bureau of Reclamation and their contractors on where to place distribution lines to best serve County residents.

If you previously submitted a well election form and declined to connect to the water system, staff can help you with the process to update your form and change your options.

• Option 1 is to fully connect to the water system and retire your well.
• Option 2 allows you to connect your home to the water system for indoor use while keeping your existing well for outdoor use.
• Option 3 is to not connect at all.
• Option 4 is to connect to the water system upon transfer of the property.

The Bureau of Reclamation is actively constructing the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System. When finished, the system is slated to deliver up to 2,500 acre-feet of water annually from the Rio Grande, reducing stress on the Pojoaque Basin aquifer. Eligible residents must file a well election form with the district court to opt into the water system.

DID YOU KNOW?

• You can keep your well for outdoor use and connect your home to the water system for indoor use.
• The water system includes new fire hydrants to improve fire protection.
• The system will allow emergency interconnections with the Santa Fe Basin, enhancing regional water resilience.

The open house is Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the El Rancho Center, located at 386 County Road 84, at the southeast corner of CR84 and Entrada El Rancho. There will be no formal presentation at the open house. Spanish translation will be available.

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