Ramah board to apply for Water Trust Board wastewater planning grant; consultant to review well ownership after OSE records gap

The Ramah Water and Sanitation District board voted Aug. 12 to authorize filing an application with the New Mexico Water Trust Board for planning assistance on the district’s wastewater treatment system, and asked a consultant to review and resolve gaps in well ownership records held by the Office of the State Engineer.

Secretary Michele Macias told the board the proposed application is similar to the district’s ongoing Water Trust Board planning grant for its water system and said a wastewater preliminary engineering report (PER) paid for by McKinley County would qualify as part of the district’s matching funds. The board approved the resolution (FY26-01) unanimously.

Macias also reported that when she contacted the Office of the State Engineer the agency had no record of the Highway well under the district’s name; the Lambson well appeared in OSE records under RW&SD ownership but the Coffey Well was not listed under the district. Macias said she asked consultant Dr. Shomaker to review paperwork and prepare a plan; Dr. Shomaker advised that the district will likely need to file declarations of ownership for each existing well before OSE will accept new-well applications, noting that existing water rights were adjudicated in the Zuni River Basin litigation.

Separately, operator Flint Tietjen reported the district completed required lead-and-copper samples (10 samples every three years) and said customers had complained of a sulfur odor in summer months, which he attributed to higher seasonal demand. The board did not take further regulatory action at the meeting and directed staff to pursue the application and consultant follow-up.