New water project gets flowing

WERE THROWN ABOUT 45 MINUTES AGO -- WATER FROM THE RIO GRANDE IS NOW RUNNING THROUGH PIPES AND ...  More »

WERE THROWN ABOUT 45 MINUTES AGO -- WATER FROM THE RIO GRANDE IS NOW RUNNING THROUGH PIPES AND INTO HOMES IN ALBUQUERQUE ... THE NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT -- WHICH IS PART OF THE SAN JUAN CHAMA WATER PROJECT -- IS NOW UP AND RUNNING. THAT'S WHERE VALERIE CASTRO JOINS US -- SHE'S LIVE NEAR MONTANO AND RENAISSANCE WITH OUR TOP STORY -- VALERIE. FOR THE 45 MINUTES WATER FROM THE RIO GRANDE HAS BEEN RUNNING THROUGH PIPES ALL OVER THE CITY AND PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND IT ALL KICKED OFF WITH THE FLIP OF 3 SWITCHES. 'CHEERING' THE 400 MILLION DOLLAR DRINKING WATER PROJECT WILL SUPPLY UP TO 90 PERCENT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA'S FUTURE WATER. TODAY'S CEREMONY HAS BEEN 45 YEARS IN THE MAKING. SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN SAYS THE NEW FACILITY AND WATER SOURCE IS VITAL TO THE GROWING ALBUQUERQUE AREA. 'It's all about sustainability...... and this is a way to ensure that the water needs of albuquerque are met on a sustainable basis.' THE CITY AND COUNTY BOUGHT RIGHTS FOR THE WATER FROM THE SAN JUAN AND CHAMA RIVERS. THE WATER IS DIVERTED TO THE RIO GRANDE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. IT'S PUMPED FROM THE RIVER NEAR THE ALAMEDA BRIDGE THEN SENT TO THE NEW TREATMENT PLANT. OFFICIALS SAY FOR RIGHT NOW ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF YOUR WATER WILL COME FROM THE RIVER. AS VALERIE JUST MENTIONED -- AT FIRST ONLY 25- PERCENT OF THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR FAUCETS WILL BE FROM THE RIO GRANDE -- THE REST WILL STILL COME FROM THE AQUIFER. IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT WILL GO UP TO 90-PERCENT -- TO HELP REPLENISH THE DWINDLING AQUIFER -- WHICH IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SAN JUAN- CHAMA WATER PROJECT.  « Less