The two projects improve water safety and availability

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 21, 2023 – Today, in honor of Earth Day 2023, USDA Rural Development State Director Patricia Dominguez led the celebration in New Mexico to dedicate a new water treatment facility and break ground for a new water well in Belen, New Mexico.

During the celebration Dominguez said, “Investments made by Rural Development in Belen will guarantee better health and economic opportunities for this community now and into the future.”

Dominguez added, “These two projects are good examples how Rural development provides access to safe water in rural New Mexico and across America.”

The celebration in Belen coincided with other Earth Day events sponsored by USDA Rural Development across the nation.

USDA Rural Development is a major supporter of the Earth Day concept because the agency provides the financial support in rural America to make sure drinking water is clean and healthy.

Today’s celebration in Belen saw the official dedication of the newly completed arsenic water treatment facility at Belen’s Water Well #8. The $3,654,00 loan/grant financing package made by USDA Rural Development paid to install the new water filtration system. The system was a priority because the water from this well exceeded federal and state mandated drinking standards for arsenic.

Because of the geology of New Mexico arsenic can occur naturally because of volcanic formations along the Rio Grande basin causing higher levels of arsenic. The design of the new water treatment facility will lower the arsenic levels in the water and will resolve health concerns.

The Earth Day celebration also included a groundbreaking for a new twelve inch 600-foot-deep water well at Belen’s Water Well #8 site. The $2-million loan/grant financing package is paying for the water well which necessary as an auxiliary and emergency backup supply for the city of Belen. When completed the new well will connect to the arsenic treatment facility filtration system. The construction of the new water well is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.