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Photo: Santa Fe County staff and Commissioner, District 1, Justin S. Greene, met with Bureau of Reclamation staff and contractors working on the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System at the future site of the water treatment facility. County staff will be in El Rancho Friday, March 20, to share important updates about the project.

Santa Fe County is reaching out to El Rancho area residents with an important message about the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System, currently under construction. Timelines for this historic project have moved up, and residents along County Roads 84, 84B and Evergreen Lane in the El Rancho vicinity need to act now if they want to connect to the water system.

Santa Fe County staff will be going door to door in the El Rancho area on Friday, March 20, to share information about the project and what residents need to do to connect to the water system.

The County will pay up to $10,000 to connect eligible residents to the water system—but you must opt in before April 2, 2026, as construction is moving forward in the El Rancho area starting on April 6, 2026. If you choose to connect after construction is completed, you will be responsible for the cost to connect.

If you want to ensure your property has a reliable source of clean drinking water, please complete the Acceptance/Well Election Form and file it with the United States District Court following the included Instructions. Please notify Santa Fe County Project Manager Scott Kaseman when you have filed your form so he can inform the contractor to install a service connection and meter pit for your home in the coming weeks.

The County is also seeking landowner input about where to install the service connections to avoid obstacles and provide a direct route to connect to the house. This is usually at or near the well house. These service connections tap into the regional water system and will provide clean drinking water to the household once the project is completed and operational. Contact Scott Kaseman to discuss potential locations on your property.

For more information about this process, to discuss where to locate the service connection on your property, and to notify the County that you filed your paperwork, contact Scott Kaseman at 505-992-9887 or email SKaseman@SantaFeCountyNM.gov.

The water system will provide reliable, safe drinking water to Pueblo and non-Pueblo customers who are part of the Aamodt Settlement Agreement in the corridors of NM-502, NM-503, 285 from Pojoaque to Tesuque, and Bishop’s Lodge Road. Once operational, the system will deliver up to 2,500 acre-feet of water annually with capacity for expansion.

The Bureau of Reclamation is the lead on the project, responsible for design, construction, and budget. For more information about the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System, visit the Santa Fe County website: https://www.santafecountynm.gov/public-works/aamodt.