Letter to Senator Joshua Sanchez,

Dear Johsua Sanchez, I am your constituent and do appreciate your efforts in building up New Mexico by standing up for and protecting the best interest of the people.  For too long Community Public Water Systems have been neglected and overlooked from the top down costing taxpayers millions of dollars and putting communities at risk .   There are a slew of problems in every corner of the State of New Mexico.  There are Public Water Systems that have not and are not meeting Drinking Water Burrow regulations and requirements that fail to meet the Safe Drinking Water Act .  New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) along with New Mexico Finance Authority have done their best in my opinion within the constraints of funding available and regulations that set their policies.  The problems that New Mexicans find themselves in today are due to lack of Legislative Action and priority given to the safety, health and peace of the people they represent in the area of helping CPWSS serve and provide safe, clean, affordable water.  Many systems lack certified water operators and certified wastewater operators.  There are CPWSS (Ramah NM and others)that have not been in proper communications with NMED or New Mexico Rural Water  for nearly a decade in nearly all parts of NM.  

There are far too many communities that have to carry the unnecessary burdens of state failed policies and procedures.   295 -504 CPWSS primarily consisting of volunteer board members serving  under 3,300 water connections are not able to afford a full time paid staff (unlike bigger cities) to seek and discover funding (navigate the Funding Process, Provide and  navigateFinancial Reports) for aging water infrastructure improvement projects let alone have the wherewithal to properly and adequately oversee and navigate the improvement projects design and construction process.  These issues are seen far too often and in many instances leaving communities with CPWSS  out of compliance and out of funding opportunities.  (all funding resources have been exhausted)

This is why I approach you to ask if you would support Bluewater Water and Sanitation Districts Proposal, to all County Offices, Elected Officials, Paid Staff and all other persons affiliated with or associated with who are working in or on behalf  of the best  interest of all County Governments within New Mexico and for the health, safety and peace of the people. 

Proposal

BWSD Proposes that County Governments provide and develop a Safe Clean and Affordable Water Infrastructure Task Force Agency Program  to “help, not Penalize” Community Public Water Systems (CPWS) address:

1.     Aging water and wastewater infrastructure, 

2.     Meet and maintain State and Federal Mandates 

3.     Seek, Obtain, and Administer State and Federal Funding 

4.      Audit CPWS at no cost to said Government entity, following New Mexico Finance Authority and New Mexico Environmental Agency Policies and State and Federal Law including the Equal Protection Clause. 

5.     Provide adequate training to all who serve CPWS in any position or capacity.  

Please review House Bill 248 in link below for reference and guidance on how New Mexico County Governments can implement a Safe Clean and Affordable Task Force Agency Program   : https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/20%20Regular/bills/house/HB0248.pdf 

This Program will provide additional much needed assistance for CPWSS that would  especially be targeted to provide

1.  an Certified Operator in each of New Mexico's Counties to serve their areas in places that are struggling to retain one for their CPWS.    Not only will this help these struggling CPWSS in meeting compliance it would provide opportunities to utilize the USDA water and wastewater apprenticeship program.  If Countys around the state would make just a small investment in Hiring a full time Operator to fill the gap in serving communities within their Counties, this would allow greater opportunities for the USDA program to function in establishing full time operators for every CPWS state wide, creating jobs and safety for the public.

2>Certified Public Accountant/officer as mandated since 2013 by state law is crucial to the successful outcome and status of a CPWSS and by creating a full time  position in each County to be available and knowledgeable  of the needs of every CPWSS within their county would be a tremendous step forward especially if coupled with an apprenticeship program.  This program would give the CPWSS more advantage and protection when approaching the state legislature, state agencies for proper funding to address aging infrastructure improvement projects 

Representative Susan Herrea 2020 House Bill 248 is a great template for County Governments to look to for Guidance

Will you Help by Contacting Representative Herrea and together using all the tools in your arsenals to initiate this program ?

Thank you,  Paul Spencer 505-287-0156