WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall announced today that the federal government is releasing $2.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for an Albuquerque-area water project.
Funding will help the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority with the construction of one phase of the Southside Municipal Effluent Polishing and Water Reclamation Project, which will provide highly treated municipal and industrial effluent for irrigation and industrial demands in the Southeast Heights and South Valley in Albuquerque. The project is expected to reclaim and reuse approximately 2,500 acre-feet per year when construction is completed in 2010. Funding was provided though the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation.
"The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has met all pre-construction requirements and the funding awarded today will make it possible for them to begin construction. This funding has been long overdue and I am pleased to see it is finally being released," said Bingaman, who wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation earlier this year urging they fund the New Mexico project.
"Wastewater reclamation projects help us to conserve our water by using recycled wastewater to keep our parks and stadiums green," said Udall. "The $2.5 million for the Southside Municipal Effluent Polishing and Water Reclamation Project will not only help us make better use of our limited water resources in New Mexico, the money will also be used to create construction related jobs in New Mexico."
Work to be completed includes the construction of a filtration and chlorination system, pump station(s), reservoir and piping associated with the distribution of treated water.
