NM Native American Communities to Receive Almost $5 Million for Water Improvements

U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced in a joint press release that six Native American communities in New Mexico will share nearly $5 million for water improvements. Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Indian Health Service.

“This nearly $5 million investment of stimulus funding will be used to improve water infrastructure in six communities in New Mexico. It will create good jobs in the short term, and provide long-lasting quality of life improvements in communities where they are badly needed,” Bingaman said.

“Investing in the essential water infrastructure systems for these tribes will improve public health and help keep these communities clean,” said Udall, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “In addition, we will succeed in creating new construction jobs to complete these needed projects.”

Funds will be distributed as follows:

• Mescalero Apache Tribe $991,700 for drinking water main improvements
• Pueblo of Picuris $15,600 for water service line replacements and $989,580 for wastewater treatment improvements
• Pueblo of Laguna $487,500 for new construction of a waterline
• Pueblo of Acoma $350,400 for waterline replacement project and $631,250 for a pilot project using waterless toilets
• Pueblo of Zia $462,500 wastewater system improvements
• Pueblo of Nambe $1.01 million for wastewater system improvements