A Water Legacy in La Union MDSWA

Driving south bound with the Organ Mountains to my left you expect to see many things. Pecan farms, and Dairy farms sure, but also the beauty of southern New Mexico. If you continue on to Anthony NM, you will stumble onto a gem. Rural Development (RD) is no stranger to the area, we have funded many water and wastewater systems.

View of La Union water tanks and Arsenic treatment building.

My drive was to lay eyes on La Union MDS&WA. You may be asking what's so different about them? Upon first glance you will see two large 250,000 gallon tanks, and unless you are familiar a few small buildings and fencing. What the community that they serves sees is the ability to stay in their homes for generations. Access to clean drinking water without having to move into a major metropolitan city or town.

What RD sees is another successful project for La Union, as we have been with them from the beginning. Not just the beginning of this most recent project that gave them that second tank, additional meters, and extended their lines. But back to 1997 when they didn't even exist as a water system and came to us for their first project to provide drinking water to residents not connected to Anthony.

This expanded into a second project in 2000, then another in 2012 to put in a arsenic treatment system. Now finally in 2017 and completing mid pandemic La Union MDS&WA didn't stop growing. Walking around and seeing the facility I begun to hear the praises from not only the owners but the engineer firm that has been attached to this project for years. That's when I discovered truly what a legacy project is for RD. To hear the phrase, "we can build a community from the ground up" and seeing it are two different things. I am standing before these massive tanks with goose bumps on my skin and witnessing that statement firsthand.

"we can build a community from the ground up"

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System inside the Arsenic treatment building.

This final project even included solar and updated SCADA software for their operator. Is RD the only funder that made this system possible? No, as the saying goes, "it takes a village" but RD lead the charge in the investment. It took us taking that first step with them to open the door for other funders to contribute. We walk alongside this rural community and like a proud parent coming back time and time again to keep them growing and healthy.

While we are very proud that their story isn't the only one, we are a part of we can say that we have many chapters in their story. La Union currently serve a population of 1,111 people, with 449 of those folks connected to them for water services. That is 449 households with access to clean water services all because RD made a commitment to their community. La Union has also made it possible to put fire hydrants in for the community that otherwise would have to wait on the local fire department to use water tenders or port-a-tanks.

During my visit my hand was shook and I was thanked. Even though it was the work of many RD employees over the years I represented the agency that made it possible. I had not even made it a few steps outside the gate when I am being asked about funding opportunities to come back to RD for further expansion. I am elated and overflowing with information as I help to carry on the legacy that RD has contributed to. If that's not a success story I am not sure what is!

For more information on Rural Development's Water and Wastewater program call 505-761-4950 or go to the Water & Environmental Programs | Rural Development (usda.gov)

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