The city operates 93 water wells, distributed over 200 square miles, that raise the ground water to the land surface. While the depth to the water table (the uppermost level of ground water) in the Albuquerque area varies between 15 and 1000 feet, the city system taps the aquifer with wells as deep as 1,800 feet.
Is there water under Albuquerque?
Albuquerque may be a dry city, but it is blessed by the presence of an underground aquifer that served the community’s needs for many decades. Experts once believed this subterranean reservoir was being continually replenished by a connection to the Rio Grande River.
How big is the aquifer in New Mexico?
20 billion acre-feet
The total volume of water in aquifers in New Mexico is estimated to be 20 billion acre-feet.
How deep are the aquifers in New Mexico?
at least 6,000 feet.
What aquifer does Albuquerque use?
Santa Fe Group aquifer system
Albuquerque relies on the Santa Fe Group aquifer system, a network of interconnected groundwater deposits within the Middle Rio Grande Basin stretching beneath Albuquerque and the surrounding communities. Generally, aquifers are recharged from precipitation that filters down through sediment, Galanter said.
How deep is the Albuquerque aquifer?
While the depth to the water table (the uppermost level of ground water) in the Albuquerque area varies between 15 and 1000 feet, the city system taps the aquifer with wells as deep as 1,800 feet. All but a few of the wells are driven by electric motors.
Does New Mexico have a water shortage?
New Mexico also has long periods of drought and inconsistent precipitation, so relying on surface water can lead to shortages as well. Water withdrawals from New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico hav e greatly reduced the volume of the Rio Grande ov er the past 50 years.
Can you drill a well in Albuquerque?
Water Well Drilling Services
Murray Drilling Company has drilled over 2500 wells in the Albuquerque area; specializing in North Albuquerque Acres, Corrales, Rio Rancho, Placitas, the North Valley, Bernalillo and Algodones.
How deep is a water well in New Mexico?
100 to 800 feet deep
Most of those are domestic wells; the typical well is about five inches in diameter and 100 to 800 feet deep, with a submersible pump at the bottom. Production wells like those operated by the City of Santa Fe are bigger and yield a lot more water.
Can you drill a water well in New Mexico?
It is illegal to drill a water well in New Mexico if you are not a licensed well driller. While you are allowed to repair and maintain the pump on your own well, you must hire a licensed well driller to drill and construct the initial structure.
How much does it cost to dig a well in New Mexico?
Well Drilling Costs By State
| State | Average Cost Per Foot |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $26 – $56 |
| New York | $30 – $65 |
| North Carolina | $27 – $59 |
| North Dakota | $29 – $64 |
Where does Albuquerque NM get its water?
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County rely on groundwater from the Santa Fe Group Aquifer and surface water from the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project. Groundwater wells combine with the San Juan-Chama project to produce about 32 billion gallons of drinking water for the Water Authority’s service area every year.
How can you tell how deep groundwater is?
The most reliable method of obtaining the depth to the water table at any given time is to measure the water level in a shallow well with a tape. If no wells are available, surface geophysical methods can sometimes be used, depending on surface accessibility for placing electric or acoustic probes.
Is Albuquerque water safe to drink?
Our water meets all federal and state standards for drinking water quality, and has also been recognized for its good taste. It is important to note that the Water Authority provides water that meets all state and federal legal standards for safe drinking water.
What is in Albuquerque water?
Albuquerque drinking water is a mix of both surface water and groundwater. Approximately 70% of the supply comes from the Colorado River Basin via the San Juan Chama Project. The remainder of the supply is collected from about 90 wells across Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque in a drought?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
In a recent journal article published in “Nature Climate Change,” researchers found the years 2000 to 2021 is the driest two-decade period since 800 A.D. “This last decade has really been tough for the state,” Mike Hamman, the state engineer, said.
Does the Rio Grande flow through Albuquerque?
The Rio Grande, which flows from southwestern Colorado for 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) before entering the Gulf of Mexico, was classified in 1993 as one of North America’s most endangered or imperiled rivers. The Rio Grande flows south into the Albuquerque Basin between the Sandia and Jemez mountains.
Where does Roswell NM get its water?
The Basin derives virtually all of its irrigation water from groundwater stored in a shallow alluvial aquifer and an artesian aquifer formed principally in the San Andres limestone. The Roswell Artesian Basin has been described as a world-class example of a rechargeable artesian aquifer system.
Does the Rio Grande river flow through Albuquerque?
After years of drought in the Southwest, a stretch of the Rio Grande once flowing through Albuquerque has run dry for the first time in 40 years.
Where in New Mexico has the most water?
Elephant Butte Lake, located in southern New Mexico, is the state’s largest lake and most popular spot for enjoying the water.
What is considered the war zone in Albuquerque?
Crime Hotspots in Albuquerque
Most notably, the Albuquerque war zone is known to a crime hotspot. It is an area of the city running along both sides of Central Avenue, between the San Mateo and Wyoming boulevards.