Afterhours Water / Sewer Emergency

Fire Protection and Emergency Preparedness

Our Commitment to Fire Protection and Emergency Preparedness

In response to the recent wildfires in New Mexico and Los Angeles, our team at Sandia Peak Utility Company wants to ensure our Sandia Heights and Primrose Pointe customers that we have taken and are taking further actions to evaluate, update and upgrade our water system to better serve our community.  Our highest priority is to provide a safe and reliable clean water source for your homes and for fire protection during emergency situations.

Wildfire protection requires a joint effort with our Sandia Heights and Primrose Pointe community and our government agencies including the Bernalillo County Fire/Rescue, Bernalillo County Emergency Management and Sherriff’s Departments, Cibola National Forest Service & Grasslands and New Mexico State Police. We are making efforts to meet with all the agencies to improve our preparedness for all emergencies with special emphasis on wildfire planning.

Sandia Peak Utility Company is continually assessing, re-evaluating and updating our water systems overall capabilities, operational & maintenance procedures, Emergency Response Plan, and Wildfire Preparedness and Response Plan. As noted in recent national media articles covering the Los Angeles wildfires, residential water systems are not generally designed to provide fire protection for catastrophic events such as the New Mexico and Los Angeles wildfires.

Over the past 30 years, the Sandia Utility Company has made significant upgrades to our domestic water and fire protection system including increased pumping and holding capacities, improved critical system redundancy and improved communication and security systems.

Here are some of the major upgrades to our utility infrastructure:

  • Increased Water Storage Capacity: An additional one-million-gallon water tank was added to the system in 1994, improving water supply capacities during peak demands and power interruptions.
  • Love Well #4: A third deep well was added to the Love Well system in 2012 for redundancy to ensure water availability in the event of a well/pump failure. (Only 2 wells are needed to maintain current peak water usage demands.)
  • Love Well Yard and Shop Complex: The new service yard complex was constructed in 2017 improving overall water system maintenance and equipment readiness.
  • Infrastructure Upgrades: We continuously invest in upgrading our water infrastructure to meet the growing needs of Sandia Heights and Primrose Pointe.  This includes replacing aging pipes, fire hydrants and updating pumps and monitoring.
  • Security improvements: Security fencing, cameras and alarm monitoring for all sensitive infrastructure and equipment with 24-hour remote monitoring of all system.
  • AMI Water Meters: Installation of the AMI water meters has decreased water loss throughout the service area.

 

Some of the details we continue to address in regard to preparedness and planning include:

  • Emergency Response Plan: As noted, we have developed a comprehensive emergency response plan that outlines procedures for various scenarios, including:
    1. Wildfires
    2. Power outages
    3. Natural disaster
    4. Water contamination
  • Wildfire Mitigation Measures: Our utility team members are actively working to reduce combustible materials in and around all our water system facilities. Additionally, we have reached out to our power service provider to inspect the areas along our service lines where overgrowth removal is needed.
  • Backup Power Plan: We currently have a comprehensive plan that includes the temporary installation of diesel generators in response to any extended power outage due to loss of power from PNM. This plan is being updated as the system is upgraded.
  • Overall System Evaluation: A complete system evaluation was prepared by Bohannan Huston Engineering – Sandia Heights Ultimate Development Water System Master Plan Report.
  • Redundancy: We also participate in the New Mexico WARN agreement which provides a process and training for adjacent water utility operators to assist in emergencies if needed.
  • Hydrant Maintenance and Testing: We regularly inspect, maintain and test fire hydrants to ensure they are in optimal working condition. This includes checking water pressure, flow rates and ensuring accessibility for emergency responders.  We work closely with the Bernalillo County Fire Department for fire hydrant exercising/testing and to coordinate efforts during fire emergencies.
  • Maintain Pressure Reducing Valves: Inspected and tested monthly to ensure pressure reliability throughout the entire distribution system.
  • Communication Systems: We have improved our communication systems to keep you informed during emergencies. This includes automated text messages, emails and an emergency hotline.
  • Infrastructure Capacity: We continually test our well system performance and capacities weekly. We realize that at full operational capacity, our water system is limited during a major catastrophic wildfire event such as occurred in Los Angeles, but we are committed to best practices for effective utilization of the system.
  • Community Outreach and Education: We believe that an informed community is a safer community. We regularly conduct outreach to educate our customers about water conservation and fire safety.

While we are committed to ensuring a reliable water supply, we also encourage our customers to take proactive steps in emergency preparedness:

  • Take fire prevention steps to protect your property from fire hazards:
    • Clear dead bushes and trees from around your home.
    • Clear debris from your roof and keep gutters free of leaves.
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for our emergency alerts and follow us on our website for real-time updates.
  • Create an Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit that includes bottled water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies and other essentials.
  • Develop a Family Emergency Plan: Discuss and practice emergency plans with your family, including evacuation routes and communication strategies.

Events like the tragic New Mexico and Los Angeles wildfires lead us all to raise our awareness about what we can do to help prevent, prepare and respond in such a challenging situation.  By planning, preparing and communicating, we hope to minimize the negative impacts that come from these catastrophic incidents.

For additional information and resources on fire prevention and preparedness plans we encourage you to explore our Customer Fire and Emergency Preparedness page and the Bernalillo County Fire Prevention- bernco.gov.