faq
What is the Bosque Water Reclamation Facility?
The facility is planned as a satellite reclamation plant to treat existing collection system flows from Albuquerque’s westside. The treated water will flow to the Rio Grande through a native vegetated conveyance channel designed to benefit the bosque habitat. Eventually, the treated, reclaimed water will be used for irrigation of westside green spaces.
Where will the Bosque Water Reclamation Facility be located?
Water Authority contractors will construct the facility on a 4.5-acre site adjacent to the Rio Grande and next to the Bosque School, near the intersection of Montaño and Coors.
Are there public health or odor concerns associated with reclamation facilities like this?
The Bosque Water Reclamation Facility will use advanced treatment technology to produce clean water that meets EPA quality standards, can be safely released to the river, and also used for irrigation purposes. At this site, all the treatment processes and equipment will be contained within enclosed structures with advanced odor treatment systems to eliminate the possibility of nuisance odors.
What is the position of the Bosque School regarding construction of the facility?
The property on which the facility will be built was purchased from the Bosque School in 2009 with its blessing and with the understanding that the school and the Water Authority will work in partnership to make the facility a resource for science education in the community. The facility will provide unique science education opportunities including introduction to advanced water treatment technologies and ecological education relating to habitat restoration within and adjacent to the clean water vegetated conveyance channel.
Why is the project necessary?
The project is an integral component of the Water Authority’s 100-year resource management strategy, WATER 2120, which calls for greater utilization of non-potable reuse in order to conserve the community’s drinking water supplies. The project will also add reclamation capacity on Albuquerque’s westside and extend the useful life and capacity of the Water Authority’s westside collection system and the Southside Water Reclamation Plant.
Are there environmental benefits to the project?
The project will greatly benefit the Albuquerque stretch of the Rio Grande by returning clean water to the river at the upstream, northern end of the city, contributing to river flows in the Albuquerque reach and improving habitats for fish, wildlife, and native riparian vegetation. Once the reuse component of the project comes online, environmental benefits will include conservation of drinking water that might otherwise be used to irrigate outdoor spaces.
How much influent water will the plant treat on a daily basis?
The facility’s initial capacity will be five million gallons per day (MGD), with planned expansion to 10 MGD in later phases.
What happens to the water after it’s treated?
The clean water will be conveyed down a vegetated/landscaped channel for release into the Rio Grande. In later phases of the project, some of the water will be used for irrigation of westside green spaces like parks and golf courses.
Will the public have access to the conveyance channel for recreation?
The channel will be designed to convey water at shallow depth with the primary purpose of supporting native plant and wildlife habitat. The edges of the channel will be planted with native species in a manner that limits human access to further benefit wildlife habitat. There will be channel crossings installed on existing bosque trails to maintain recreational use.
How much will this project cost?
The estimated project cost is $300 million, of which nearly $24 million has already been raised by the Water Authority via its capital improvement program and from state and federal government.
When will construction begin and end?
Groundbreaking is planned for November of 2027, with a targeted completion date of Spring 2031.
Will I see an increase in my water bill to pay for this project?
No, the facility is being constructed as part of the Water Authority’s planned, long-term capital improvement efforts and the project itself will require no dedicated rate increase.
Coors and Montaño is a major intersection. Will the project have traffic impacts?
The construction site is not immediately adjacent to a major intersection. Construction traffic along Mirandela Street NW will be managed to minimize impacts to the adjacent school and trailhead access will be maintained.