Pojoaque Basin wells get free testing

Santa Fe County and state agencies are offering free domestic well water testing today and Saturday for residents of the Pojoaque Basin area with private wells. The event will be held at the Pojoaque High School Gymnasium at 1574 N.M. 502, Pojoaque, from noon.-5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

The tests will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be two types of tests: lab tests and in-field testing. The lab tests will be done for the first 500 well water samples from within the Pojoaque Basin, and include laboratory analysis for iron, nitrate, arsenic, manganese, fluoride, uranium, electrical conductivity and pH.

The in-field tests will be done at the gym for the first 200 well water samples not within the Pojoaque Basin, and include field analysis for sulfate, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, iron, electrical conductivity and pH, with the option for the lab testing for $91.38 (checks only).

As part of the Aamodt Settlement Agreement, intended to end decades of litigation over Indian and nonIndian water rights in northern Santa Fe County, the Bureau of Reclamation is designing a new regional water system for the Pojoaque Basin. Well owners who accept the settlement can choose to connect to the county water utility or continue using well water. County government expects a judge to set a “well election” date before the end of the year.

This weekend’s tests are “a unique opportunity for Pojoaque Basin well owners to better understand the quality of their private well water prior to making a well election,” County Commissioner Henry Roybal said in a news release.