Truth or Consequences plans $50'$60 million waterline overhaul after leaks and aging pipes found

Truth or Consequences Mayor Ralph Hashler said the city will undertake a multi-year program to replace aging water mains after recent inspections and state-supported leak detection identified widespread corrosion and dozens of leaks.

"We're going to be spending between 50 and $60 million on waterline repairs over the next three years," Hashler said in an on-site interview, adding the city plans to replace more than 80,000 linear feet of pipeline and to prioritize the worst sections first.

The mayor said the town serves about 3,000 water connections for roughly 6,000 residents and relies on groundwater tapped beneath local hot springs. In places the water table is shallow, about 3.5 feet below the surface, and the hot springs can reach average temperatures near 104'F, he said.

Hashler described how heavy mineralization leads to tuberculation inside pipes, which can occlude lines and drive up system pressure. The city showed an excavated line that appeared roughly 50% to 55% occluded and said some previously found sections were about 80% blocked. "We've had some water line in the city that's 80% blocked," he said.

The city has been working with a state-supported acoustic and satellite leak detection team from Astera; Hashler said their inspectors found 31 leaks in two days, with about half on the customer side and half on the distribution side. "We lose probably between 20 and 40% of our water through leakage before we even see it at the meters," Hashler said, arguing that proactive detection saves water and staff time by allowing repairs before leaks surface.

Hashler said the city has obtained multiple funding sources, including what he described as "Colonia's money" and support from the Water Trust Board. He said the funds and plans should let crews take the worst pipes first and then reassess whether additional state help will be needed to finish the work.

City crews and utility staff have been following field inspectors to validate acoustic signals and address urgent leaks immediately; Hashler said two of the leaks identified during recent inspections were considered urgent and were fixed quickly. The mayor said the replacement program is intended to stop the recurring cycle of leaks and pressure shifts that cause repeated failures.

The city did not announce a final construction schedule or specific street-by-street timeline in the interview; Hashler said the work will unfold over the next three years and depend on coordinating multiple funding streams. Residents with immediate concerns reported pressure changes in recent work; one resident said pressure at his house rose from about 60 PSI to 100 PSI after nearby pipe work, a pattern Hashler said can occur when crews restore a previously blocked section.

Next steps: the town will proceed with prioritized replacement of the worst pipe sections, continue collaborating with state-funded leak detection teams, and reassess funding needs after the initial phase of work.