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Santa Fe– July 12, 2007 – Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya joined a cadre of residents and local, state, and federal government representatives on a fact-finding trip to Willard, NM to study new technologies in treating wastewater. Members of the Espanola Basin Regional Planning Issues Forum (EBRPIF) viewed an in-operation “cluster wastewater system.” “This information is critical in helping us decide on the best way to provide viable wastewater solutions to areas like Sombrillo” said Commissioner Montoya “It is our duty to protect the public health and safety of our communities as we expand.”

Attendees included: (City of Espanola) Councilor Alfred Herrera and Councilor Danielle Duran;(Rio Arriba County) Planner Alberto Baros; (Santa Fe County) Hvtce Miller, Doug Sayre and Robert Gutierrez;(Office of Sen. Domenici) Callie Gibson; (Santa Clara Pueblo) Brian Suazo and Jeremy Yepa of the Pueblo Environment Department; (Water Matters) Charlie Nylander; (Los Alamos National Labs) Dr. Lisa Henne; (New Mexico Environment Department) Dr. Richard Rose.

Dr. Rose led the tour of the systems - a newer type of technology used for treating wastewater with advantages over larger “traditional” centralized types of systems. The system viewed in Willard contains elements of a traditional septic tank system as well as a centralized treatment facility. Willard had three individual cluster systems which served approximately 30 homes each.

Each home or business maintains a septic tank that collects solids from the waste but the liquid from the waste is sent to a cluster system that treats the water. The treated water is then leached into the ground like a traditional septic system. A leach field is not needed for each septic system. The cluster system is different in the sense that new technologies allow for the water to be treated and released into the ground at a better quality than a septic system. The treated water could also be reused if wanted and not have to be leached into the ground. In order to reuse the water some additional steps would be needed to further treat the water. The potential reuse of water is an added benefit to this type of system that a conventional septic system cannot even incorporate.

The centralization of the water treatment allows for a consolidation of what would normally be many individual septic systems.  This consolidation requires less space for the treatment process to occur. The sites in Willard were a ¼ acre in size. The technology used also eliminates the bad odor associated with wastewater treatment.

The visit helps Northern New Mexico government officials better understand newer technologies that can be used to handle wastewater solutions in densely populated areas.

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