Work is expected to begin sometime next spring on the construction of two new aquifer storage and recovery wells in Bernalillo County.
The long-anticipated project is taking a big step forward due to a nearly $19 million State of New Mexico grant. That funding will be joined with around $6.7 million provided by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
Set to be built off the 1200 block of S. Renaissance Boulevard, the project will belong to the water authority.
In a statement, Barbara Baca, chairwoman of the body, said the new wells “will allow for local underground storage of San Juan-Chama surface water for use during dry spells like the one we’re in now.”
As such, the wells will be “critical in meeting the Water Authority’s long-term drinking water supply goals,” Baca added.
Upon completion, the new wells are expected to triple the storage and recovery well capacity from 3,000 acre-feet per year to about 9,000 acre-feet.
The Water Authority currently has around 8,600 acre-feet of water stored underground in Albuquerque.
If all goes as expected, work building the new aquifer storage and recovery wells should be completed sometime in 2028.
The Water Authority maintains a water system relying on water imported from the Colorado River Basin, along with than 3,000 miles of water supply pipeline and another 2,400 miles of sewer collection pipeline.
August 27, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
