Feasibility Study of Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment and Wildlife Habitat Luna County, NM Public Meeting November 10, :00 am Presented by: Luna County Planning Department and Zia Engineering & Environmental Consultants, LLC

Background Luna County Comprehensive Plan indicates that County is on the verge of an “environmental catastrophe” County residents outside of Deming and Columbus rely on septic tanks and domestic wells New NMED regulations came into effect September 1, 2005 Border 2012 grant to explore treatment options to address these concerns

Project Scope Research existing information and choose a study area Identify alternative treatment methods Assess alternatives to determine feasibility –Ability to meet regulations, previous experiences, demands on community, technical considerations, flexibility, cost –County’s stated goals: provide an alternative to septic systems; water reclamation and reuse; create outdoor recreational opportunities; aesthetic improvements; provide educational opportunities Prepare of a schematic system design

Interstate 10 Deming City Limits County ETZ Zone

Study Location T24S R9W Section 24 SW quarter (La Hacienda Estates) –94 septic systems –74 domestic wells –Growing area of subdivisions –Property nearby that could serve as treatment site (state land and gravel pits)

Alternative Treatment Methods Lagoon Earthen reservoirs with an impervious liner that can be used alone or in combination with other processes to provide complete wastewater treatment

Alternatives (continued) Small Treatment Plant Smaller version of the typical wastewater treatment plants that most large communities use for the treatment of their wastewater (two options: custom design or pre-packaged)

Alternatives (continued) De-centralized Treatment Systems An alternative that utilizes more than one location throughout the study site to implement treatment (two options: on-lot or cluster)

Alternatives (continued) Treatment Wetland Attempt to mimic natural wetland processes to treat wastewater

Advantages and Disadvantages Treatment Lagoon AdvantagesDisadvantages  Minimum operation and maintenance  Low technological demands  Can design to store sludge  Land use intensive  Not flexible  Difficult to upgrade  Difficulty in consistently reducing nitrogen levels  Algal growth can be extensive  Odor production may be a problem at headworks  Eventual sludge removal may be difficult  Requires a NMED groundwater discharge permit  Requires a collection system  Requires groundwater monitoring  Requires a certified operator

Advantages and Disadvantages Small Treatment Plant AdvantagesDisadvantages Flexible Able to meet all regulated effluent levels Proven effective in the region Easy to upgrade Cost Frequent sludge disposal required Requires a NMED groundwater discharge permit Requires a collection system Requires an Advanced Licensed Wastewater Operator

Advantages and Disadvantages De-centralized Treatment Systems AdvantagesDisadvantages No or minimal collection system required Low maintenance requirements Proven effective in the region Contract out O&M services No NMED groundwater discharge permit required Easy to upgrade Numerous maintenance locations Difficult to ensure current maintenance is done Maintenance of septic systems may be necessary Use of individual homeowners’ property

Advantages and Disadvantages Treatment Wetland AdvantagesDisadvantages Aesthetically pleasing Habitat creation Land use intensive Extensive pre-treatment required Regional systems have not been effective Not flexible Requires a NMED groundwater discharge permit Requires a collection system

Summary Matrix of Treatment Alternatives (1 = Low Desirability; 3 = High Desirability) Treatment Lagoon Small Plant Pre- Packaged Plant On-lot Treatment Cluster Systems Meets County’s Goals Complexity Flexibility Reliability O&M Requirements Cost Ability to be Upgraded Total

Effluent Alternatives Constructed Wetlands can be successfully used as a final polishing and effluent disposal step Agricultural use treated wastewater to irrigate an existing agriculture operation or to develop a new one Residential treated wastewater may be used to irrigate residential landscaping Discharge release the water into a leach field and discharge to the groundwater table

WetlandAgricultureResidentialDischarge Meets County’s Goals 3231 Additional Treatment 3321 Quantitative Cost 1322 Total7874 Summary Matrix of Effluent Alternatives (1 = Low Desirability; 3 = High Desirability)

Recommendation Meets all the criteria and goals Lowest cost option * – no collection system required Puts the responsibility in the hands of the homeowner * Costs calculated without grants or other funding considered De-centralized cluster treatment with residential sub-surface irrigation

Estimated Costs for Recommendation Capital CostAnnual O&M 4-Home Cluster System $24,100$1,650 Irrigation System (4 homes) $8, Total $32,100$1,650 Capital CostAnnual O&M Cluster Systems for La Hacienda Estates $872,600$59,000 Irrigation System for La Hacienda Estates $200, Total $1,072,000$59,000

Questions?