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Growth Management / Land Use

Conservation Events

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Tentative Schedule of Events:
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Saturday and Sunday April 24 and 25: Free Workshops and Earth Day Celebrations.

 

Past Conservation Events

  • April 16-17, 2008 Children's Water Fiesta
  • Water Quality Testing Fair
     
    Results from Galisteo Basin Testing
     
    The testing was held on November 17, 2007 between 10 am and 2 pm. The testing was provided by NMED and Santa Fe County. Residents from Cerrillos, Madrid, and Galisteo participated in the event. Water from 31 wells and 1 cistern were analyzed. Overall the water quality is good in the area with few exceptions.
    EPA STANDARDS
    Between 6.5 and 8.5*
    None
    Less than 1000 micromnos/cm
    Less than 10 mg/L*
    Less than 250 mg/L**
    Less than 0.3 mg/L*
    Less than 2.0 mg/L*, Less than 4.0 mg/L**
     
    pH
    Temp (°C)
    Conductivity (μS/cm)
    Nitrate (mg/L)
    Sulfate (mg/L)
    Iron (mg/L)
    Fluoride (mg/L)
    Organic Vapor
    8.72
    15.6
    772
    0.4
    45
    0.01
    over range
    Not Detected
    8.57
    16.1
    318.6
    0.8
    10
    0.02
    0.76
    Not Detected
    7.75
    17.1
    824
    0.3
    60
    0.01
    0.78
    Not Detected
    8.49
    15.5
    431.8
    1.3
    73
    0.65
    2.60
    Not Detected
    8.09
    15.0
    369
    1.6
    50
    0.01
    0.46
    Not Detected
    8.30
    16.5
    1759
    0.7
    284
    0.03
    0.82
    Not Detected
    8.17
    14.4
    314.7
    1.3
    27
    0.09
    0.72
    Not Detected
    8.05
    14.5
    2080
    0.5
    308
    0.02
    0.72
    Not Detected
    7.99
    17.6
    1826
    0.6
    304
    0.06
    over range
    Not Detected
    7.79
    15.4
    801
    0.9
    129
    0.01
    0.52
    Not Detected
    7.70
    15.0
    690
    0.5
    130
    0.03
    0.79
    Not Detected
    7.74
    15.2
    1995
    0.1
    74
    0.77
    0.94
    Not Detected
    7.85
    15.9
    261.2
    1.6
    10
    0.01
    0.14
    Not Detected
    7.49
    16.4
    973
    2.4
    152
    1.03
    0.94
    Not Detected
    6.38
    15.6
    312.8
    2.4
    14
    0.01
    0.94
    Not Detected
    7.30
    12.8
    340
    3.4
    15
    0.09
    0.86
    Not Detected
    8.44
    16.0
    1325
    10.4
    147
    0.00
    0.88
    100 ppm
    7.80
    17.5
    606
    2.4
    76
    0.01
    1.26
    Not Detected
    7.38
    18.0
    516
    2.7
    60
    0.04
    0.65
    Not Detected
    8.15
    16.2
    1801
    0.9
    164
    0.03
    8.00
    Not Detected
    7.79
    16.5
    358.9
    1.0
    5
    0.00
    1.26
    Not Detected
    7.80
    16.7
    334
    0.9
    6
    0.01
    1.07
    Not Detected
    7.21
    15.5
    1259
    0.8
    225
    0.05
    1.36
    Not Detected
    7.47
    17.0
    350.2
    3.5
    8
    0.00
    0.53
    Not Detected
    7.38
    19.8
    960
    1.2
    122
    0.02
    0.90
    Not Detected
    8.14
    17.2
    808
    0.9
    104
    0.01
    over range
    Not Detected
    8.23
    16.4
    750
    0.8
    37
    0.00
    3.40
    Not Detected
    7.30
    17.4
    856
    1.4
    148
    0.00
    1.23
    Not Detected
    7.52
    18.0
    350
    3.5
    36
    0.01
    0.50
    Not Detected
    7.46
    17.9
    649
    1.0
    74
    0.05
    1.22
    Not Detected
    7.25
    18.0
    748
    1.0
    126
    0.01
    1.03
    Not Detected
    ** National Primary Drinking Water Standard
    * National Secondary Drinking Water Standard (Aesthetic)  

Interpreting Test Results 

pH - The pH indicates whether water is basic, neutral or acidic. It is a measure of hydrogen ion activity in water and it is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 representing the neutral point. A pH value above 7 is basic and a value below 7 is acidic. The pH of water is important because high or low pH can cause aesthetic problems, and can cause toxic metals to leach from plumbing materials. The NMED recommends drinking water have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5.
 
Specific Conductance - Conductivity serves as a measure of the total dissolved solids (TDS) or salts in water. High total dissolved solids can impart an unpleasant taste and odor to water and can cause mineral deposits on plumbing fixtures. TDS is proportional to water hardness. Specific conductance can be multiplied by 0.7 to estimate TDS. The NMED recommends conductivity of less than 1,000 micromhos per centimeter for drinking water to prevent aesthetic nuisances.
 
Sulfate - Sulfate is a compound of sulfur and oxygen that is commonly found in ground water. Sulfate can give an unpleasant taste to drinking water and can cause diarrhea. The federal aesthetic standard for sulfate is 250 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for drinking water.
 
Nitrate as nitrogen - Nitrate is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen. There are many possible sources of nitrate contamination including fertilizer, animal waste, septic tanks, refuse dumps and natural geologic deposits. Generally, the concentration in ground water is low, but sometimes higher levels are almost always dangerous to infants under six months of age and can cause the "blue baby syndrome" a rare, but serious, disease in infants. State and federal health standards for nitrate as nitrogen are set at 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for drinking water.
 
Fluoride - Fluoride is a natural occurring element that is commonly found in ground water. Fluoride in drinking water can be assimilated into the bones and teeth. High fluoride in drinking water can cause dental fluorosis (mottling of the teeth), and skeletal fluorosis (weakening of the bones). NMED recommends a maximum fluoride concentration of 2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in drinking water.
 
Iron and Anoxic Contamination (manganese, hydrogen sulfide, methane) - Anoxic contamination is a chemical condition in which the water is deficient in oxygen. It can be caused by septic tank discharges or by naturally occurring geologic deposits such as humus and peat. Iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, typical anoxic contaminants, can cause severe taste and odor problems.
 
Organic Vapor - The detection of organic vapor may indicate that your water contains gasoline or other volatile organic chemicals. It may also indicate the presence of harmless methane gas. There are health standards for some volatile organic chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and xylene. If organic vapor other than methane is detected in your water, further sampling will be conducted by the NMED. The NMED recommends that organic vapor be not detectable in drinking water.

What to do if Test Results Approach or Exceed the Standard

1. Inform yourself of potential health risks by first reading literature.
2. Attempt to locate the source of contamination and take corrective measures if possible.
3. Purify the contaminated water or establish an alternate safe source of drinking water for everyone using the contaminated well.
4. Have your water tested annually.

 
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