County Could Build Pipeline to Eldorado

Santa Fe County could begin supplying water to Eldorado by late next year under a plan to build a new pipeline into the area.

The line would stretch east from the Rancho Viejo subdivision, just south of the city limits and the southernmost part of the county water utility’s service area, and connect with infrastructure now maintained by the Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District. The district supplies water to nearly 3,000 customers.

The county would own and maintain the new pipeline and the Eldorado utility would purchase water from the county.

Also, an existing utility line would be extended into a new tank near the Eldorado exit at the U.S. 285/Interstate 25 intersection to provide water to Cañoncito, to the east between Eldorado and Glorieta, which has had water supply problems in the past.

Altogether, the project would encompass about 3.5 miles in new water lines.

“Everything is a concept at this point. We are paying engineers to create and design a plan for this,” Patricio Guerrerortiz, the county’s utilities director, said.

But he added, “The county is going ahead with this. This will happen. This is in the process of happening already.”

The roughly $4 million undertaking will be paid for with water projects money from a 2004 general obligation bond.

Read more in tomorrow’s Journal.