Water Leaks Ruin Ruidoso Getaway For Valentine’s Couples; National Guard Sent In

Just as El Paso’s water crisis is coming to an end, the village of Ruidoso is overflowing with water woes of its own. Friday, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez sent the New MMexico National Guard to help with recovery efforts there.

Valentine’s Day weekend is usually great for Ruidoso as the village hosts couples in search of a cozy cabin getaway. But with this water crisis, people can’t shower or flush the toilet regularly. For now, chances for romance in Ruidoso are going down the drain.

“This weekend is a total 100 percent loss, it’s just unbelievable” a cabin owner said.

There’s no vacancy at the forest home cabins. Usually, that’s a good thing.

All of them were booked except there were three that couldn’t be rented because the pipes burst and they were flooded out.

But with no running water in the rustically romantic cabins, guests are checking out.

“We got the insulation and everything was winterized down to about 5 below or zero but we weren’t ready for 25 below,” the cabin owner said.

Breaks like these made for massive water leaks throughout Ruidoso. It put a strain on their water system and now they’re in a state of emergency.

Some homes have been without water for days.

“I’d like to take a shower. I have dishwasher full of dirty dishes. I’d like to take a shower. You have to look on the bright side.” said Mayor Ray Alborn

Alborn knows most folks aren’t laughing.

“They’re pretty darn frustrated,” he said.

The mission now: fix the approximately 428 water line breaks in the village. The mission for the future, “make sure we’re in a position to do more earlier than maybe we did this time. We have a very antiquated system and we have a very complicated system”

An emergency center has been set up to get things back to normal ASAP.

National Guardsmen are in Ruidoso to help turn off valves and hand out water at the fire station. Tourists fill up buckets to flush cabin toilets.

They say they’re running out of patience.

“What’s been the toughest part in all this? MMy wife not having the bathroom,” a tourist said. “If the wife ain’t happy, we might be in trouble.”

The mayor says best case scenario, water service will be restored throughout the village by Monday or Tuesday

The mayor has issued a very detailed five page summary. The Upper Canyon area has the worst of it.

Read the mayor’s full summary here.