Village of Tularosa declares state of emergency due to water crisis, enforces water restrictions

TULAROSA, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Village of Tularosa has declared a state of emergency due to the village's municipal water storage tanks having reached critically low levels, where officials say poses a threat to public safety, fire protection, and basic domestic needs.

According to village officials, heavy rains and flash flooding in the Ruidoso, New Mexico, and upper watershed areas have washed severe amounts of wildfire ash, soot, and debris into the Tularosa regional water supply. Officials say that this has caused standard water treatment processes to be complicated or temporarily untreatable.

The Village Council hosted an emergency meeting regarding the water crisis on August 3 and approved a resolution declaring the state of emergency.

Due to the declaration, officials prohibited the use of all outdoor watering, irrigation, and non-essential water use. This declaration banned lawn sprinkling, watering of gardens and landscaping, washing of vehicles or driveways, and filling or topping off swimming pools, hot tubs, and decorative fountains.

Individuals in the village were urged by officials to practice severe water conservation, which included taking shorter showers, running only full loads of laundry and dishes, and repairing any active plumbing leaks.

Since the declaration, the village also issued a precautionary boil water advisory prior to consuming water due to increased likelihood of microbiological contamination within the distribution system.

Village officials say that they are working with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to get approval of having water hauled to the village's water tanks and holding pond. According to officials, a water tanker from Oasis LLC. has been utilized to help with the village's needs currently. The tanker, officials say, is one of the five tankers in the entire state approved by NMED to haul water.

The Village of Tularosa is located is located 102 miles North-Northeast of El Paso, Texas and nearly 35 South-Southeast of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

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