Geology. The Albuquerque basin is the largest and oldest of the three major basins in the Rio Grande rift. The depth of the basin typically ranges from 4,407 to 6,592 meters (14,459 to 21,627 ft).
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How deep is the aquifer in New Mexico?
Sand- stone aquifers capable of yielding small to moderate supplies of water occur primarily in the northeastern and northwestern part of the State. The depth to water in much of the area at the lower eleva- tions in the State is less than 200 feet.
How big is the Albuquerque aquifer?
The city operates 93 water wells, distributed over 200 square miles, that raise the ground water to the land surface. While the depth to the water table (the uppermost level of ground water) in the Albuquerque area varies between 15 and 1000 feet, the city system taps the aquifer with wells as deep as 1,800 feet.
How deep is the water table in Albuquerque?
It has the deepest water table, with water depths ranging from 4.1 to 9.5 feet deep.
Is there an aquifer under Albuquerque?
Albuquerque relies on the Santa Fe Group aquifer system, a network of interconnected groundwater deposits within the Middle Rio Grande Basin stretching beneath Albuquerque and the surrounding communities. Generally, aquifers are recharged from precipitation that filters down through sediment, Galanter said.
Where does Albuquerque get its water supply?
groundwater
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County rely on groundwater from the Santa Fe Group Aquifer and surface water from the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project. Groundwater wells combine with the San Juan-Chama project to produce about 32 billion gallons of drinking water for the Water Authority’s service area every year.
Where is the most water in New Mexico?
New Mexico relies on both groundwater and surface water sources, but about 87 percent of New Mexico’s public water supply comes from ground water. No other southwestern state gets such a large percentage of its domestic water from groundwater sources.
Does New Mexico have an aquifer?
Most of New Mexico’s fresh water is stored as groundwater in aquifers below the land surface, where it occupies small open spaces between grains of sand or gravel and small cracks or fractures in rock.
Can you swim in the Rio Grande in Albuquerque?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The Bosque is really being used as a getaway right now. It’s a place families can go biking, walking and, yes, swimming.
Is New Mexico running out of water?
The warming climate that has kept New Mexico in a drought for the past 20 years and is depleting water supplies will continue into the next half-century and must shape long-term planning, state officials said in a virtual hearing Wednesday.
What is the aquifer in New Mexico?
The two principal limestone aquifers in New Mexico (aquifers 13 and 14) are in the Pecos River basin and the Rio San Jose basin. These aquifers are segments of the areally extensive, but discon- tinuous, San Andres Formation of Permian age.
How much does it cost to drill a water well in New Mexico?
Well Drilling Costs By State
| State | Average Cost Per Foot |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $26 – $56 |
| New York | $30 – $65 |
| North Carolina | $27 – $59 |
| North Dakota | $29 – $64 |
What is the average well depth in New Mexico?
100 to 800 feet
Most of those are domestic wells; the typical well is about five inches in diameter and 100 to 800 feet deep, with a submersible pump at the bottom. Production wells like those operated by the City of Santa Fe are bigger and yield a lot more water.
What river flows through Albuquerque?
the Rio Grande
It is legal to float down the Rio Grande in kayaks, canoes, rafts and other non-motorized water craft. In and around Albuquerque there are several places where you can access the river. Most river bridges in the Albuquerque area provide access, with some walking required from the parking areas.
Are there rivers in Albuquerque?
The Rio Grande flows south into the Albuquerque Basin between the Sandia and Jemez mountains.Before entering the basin the river is impounded by the Cochiti Dam, built in 1975.
What is an aquifer where are aquifers usually found?
Groundwater can be found in a range of different types of rock, but the most productive aquifers are found in porous, permeable rock such as sandstone, or the open cavities and caves of limestone aquifers.
Is water in Albuquerque safe to drink?
Our water meets all federal and state standards for drinking water quality, and has also been recognized for its good taste. It is important to note that the Water Authority provides water that meets all state and federal legal standards for safe drinking water.
Does New Mexico get water from the Colorado River?
“Our supplies of Colorado River water come from the upper part of the Colorado River Basin, which is managed somewhat differently.” New Mexico sees water shortages all the time, depending on the amount of snowfall in the mountains. “We had a shortage this year in New Mexico,” Fleck said.
How much water does the city of Albuquerque use?
In 2019, water use in the metro area was 121 gallons of water per capita per day, about 700 million total fewer gallons than 2018.
Is Albuquerque water chlorinated?
Sharon Sivinski, education coordinator for ABCWUA, says this could be a potential cause of the local drinking water’s “funny” taste. “We have to always put chlorine in any water that goes through a pipe,” Sivinski said. “So if people are complaining about the taste of the water, it’s probably because of the chlorine.”
Are there any natural lakes in New Mexico?
Take a read below for some exciting ideas on how best to enjoy New Mexico’s lakes. Elephant Butte Lake, located in southern New Mexico, is the state’s largest lake and most popular spot for enjoying the water. It offers up great swimming, waterskiing, boating and more.
