​What is EAWSD?

• Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District (EAWSD) is a special governmental district formed under the New Mexico's Water & Sanitation District Act NMSA 1978, Sections 73-21-1 through 73-21-54.  EAWSD is a governmental body (not-for-profit) governed by an elected, unpaid Board of Directors. It is subject to the laws of the State of New Mexico and the regulations of the New Mexico Drinking Water Bureau and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

 

What is the difference between EAWSD and a private water company?

• The original owner of Eldorado’s water system, El Dorado Utilities, Inc., (known as EDU) was a subsidiary of the developer. It was a private, for-profit, company.  EAWSD, which took over the water system in 2004, is a governmental water and sanitation district. It has an elected, unpaid Board of Directors supported by volunteer committees. It makes no profit: all its revenues — whether from rates or from property taxes — go toward operating, maintaining and improving the water system and retiring its debt.

 

Is there an advantage having a governmental entity provide water service?

• The key advantage is accountability to the community.  EAWSD is a governmental entity whose Board members are customers and property owners and are elected by fellow customers and property owners.

• All meetings, financial reporting, audits and procurement decisions are subject to strict regulatory requirements. All monies raised to fund EAWSD become a dedicated resource that cannot be diverted to municipal, county or corporate projects, as could be the case if the utility were a department in a city, such as Santa Fe, or if our system were still owned by private investors.

• By contrast, private for-profit water utilities are focused primarily on return to shareholders rather than the interests of the communities they serve.

 

Who does the work of EAWSD?

• The District has three full-time employees: a General Manager, a Projects Manager, and an Administrative Manager.

• Members of the EAWSD Board are customers and property owners and are elected by fellow customers and property owners. They are not compensated for their service.

• Other customers and property owners support the Board and the administrative staff by serving, unpaid, on committees.

• Operations, maintenance and billing functions are performed under an ongoing contract with CH2M/OMI, acquired in 2017 by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., a national engineering firm specializing in water utility services.  

• Specialized engineering, financial, legal and hydrology services are contracted for as needed.

 

What facilities does EAWSD manage?

System components include:

• 6 storage tanks, with 2.5 million gallons’ maximum capacity, typically operated at 90% full;

• 10 active wells in two well fields and three major aquifer groups, plus numerous observation/monitoring wells;

• More than 130 miles of distribution and transmission lines (4" and above)

• 7 booster pump stations;

• More than 600 isolation valves, and 28 pressure reducing valve stations;

• More than 600 fire hydrants;

• Computerized monitoring and control system (SCADA), connected to key facilities, which provides for remote operation and monitoring of the water system, including by 'on-call' operators at nights and on weekends;

• Leased facilities, including an Administrative Office, Customer Service and Billing Office, and Operations/Field Office.

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