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Water Systems
Status Click on the link for current status
Sierra Los Pinos is located at a point on
the southern edge of the Valles Caldera where there is a fracture in the
rim of the caldera's bowl-like structure. It is believed that our
underground water may be supplied from the Valles Caldera's deep reservoir
along this structure. Since the water does not run under all properties
and such deep wells are expensive to drill, the SLP members established a
community water system.
March
2006 Water Conservation Plea
May 2005 Water
Conservation Plea
June 20, 2002
Water System Review and Recommendations
PDF
Document prepared by F.L. Miller, Civil Engineer
June 2003
Source Water Assesment & Protection Program Report of Sierra
Los Pinos Home Owners Association Water Utility
Commonly asked questions
What water system
is my property on?
How safe is the
water?
How do power
outages effect our water supply?
Why are there
water shortages during the early summer months?
What do I do when
I lose water?
Can our existing
wells support future development?
Water Facts
Answers
What water system is my
property on?
Sierra Los Pinos has two community water systems.
Units 1,2, and 3 are on System 1. This system is comprised of two wells
(400' and 215' deep) and 30,000 gallons of water storage.
Units 4 thru 8 are on System 2. This system is comprised of two wells
(350' and 248' deep), 1 of which is inactive, which supply water to the
booster station. This station then pumps water to 22,000 gallons of water
storage.
How safe is the
water?
For the past 15 years, our water has tested negative for
bacterial contamination and past water analysis testing for forty major
and trace cation elements has also shown our water to be low in most
elements. The water supplying Sierra Los Pinos is of very good quality and
from tritium testing, estimated to be at least 50 years old . Refer to the
2007
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) (PDF/70KB) for more
details. Past reports:
2006 CCR,
2005 CCR,
2004 CCR,
2003 CCR,
2001 CCR,
2002 CCR.
How do power outages
effect our water supply?
Our water pumps are electrically powered.
Power outages from electrical storms and lightning strikes can cause pump
failure, cutting off or drastically limiting the supply of water to
residents. Since we cannot predict the time it will take to repair a
failed system, residents are asked to conserve water usage during these
outages and advised to keep an emergency supply of water to accommodate
household needs for at least 4 days. The phone tree mechanism will be used
to attempt to notify residents when these problems occur.
The pumps in all wells and the
booster station have pump protection units installed to guard against
under/over voltage/current and rapid cycling.
Why are there water
shortages during the summer months?
In summer, water usage tends to
rise because of increased numbers of people being at home and
participating in outdoor watering activities.
What do I do when I lose
water?
Notify the water chairman or a Board member.
Can our existing wells
support future development?
Continued development may
compromise adequate water supplies for the community. The long range plan
(2003) addresses some of the findings.
Water
Facts:
- Industries as well as people need water. It takes on average 39,090
gallons of water to manufacture a new car and its four tires.
- 62,600 gallons of water are needed to produce one ton of steel;
1,500 gallons to process one barrel of beer; and 9.3 gallons to process
one can of fruit or vegetables.
- On average, 50-70% of household water is used outdoors (watering
lawns, washing cars).
- The average American uses over 100 gallons of water per day; the
average residence uses over 100,000 gallons during a year.
- Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of tap water per
day.
- The people in the United States use as much as 700,000,000,000 (700
billion) gallons of water each day.
- The average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is about
$2.00 for 1,000 gallons, which equals about 5 gallons for a penny.
Currently, SLPPOA residents pay $417.45 in dues per year for both water
AND road maintenance. That is less than some residences pay for just
water in one month.
- It costs over $3.5 billion to operate water systems throughout the
United States each year.
- Each day the sun evaporates 1,000,000,000,000 (a trillion) tons of
water.
- Showers use 5-9 gallons of water per minute. A bath requires 30-50
gallons. A sprinkler head uses 7-12 gallons per minute. Watering your
lawn with one sprinkler for 1 hour uses 720 gallons.
- A hot water faucet that leaks 60 drops per minute can waste 192
gallons of water and 48 kilowatt hours of electricity per month.
- Running the tap waiting for water to get hot or cold can waste 5
gallons per minute.
- 97% of the water on the earth is saltwater; only 3% is freshwater.
Most of the freshwater stored on the earth is frozen glaciers.
- In some deserts, rain is so uncommon that the natives do not have a
word for it.
Click here for a water terms glossary from the NM State
Engineer's Office.
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