BELEN—While arsenic is a natural occurring component in New Mexico because of volcanic formations along the Rio Grande basin, the design of the new water treatment facility in the Hub City will lower levels in the water and will resolve health concerns.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, April 21, for the city of Belen’s new water filtration system during an Earth Day celebration at Well No. 8. Pictured, from left, are Angelo Champion, aide to U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan; Belen Middle School students Noah Gonzales and Ezekiel Martinez, Belen Mayor Robert Noblin, USDA Rural Development State Director Patricia Dominguez, students Ramon Vallejos and Maritza Alderete, and DeChellie Gray, aide to U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury. (Clara Garcia | News-Bulletin photos)
In honor of Earth Day, the city of Belen and the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday to dedicate the new complex.
The newly-completed arsenic water treatment facility at Belen’s Water Well #8 was financed through a $3,654,00 loan/grant financing package made by USDA Rural Development. The system was a priority because the water from this well exceeded federal and state mandated drinking standards for arsenic.
“Investments made by Rural Development in Belen will guarantee better health and economic opportunities for this community now and into the future,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Patricia Dominguez.
The event also included a ground-breaking ceremony for a new, a new 12-inch 600-foot-deep, back-up water well at Belen’s water well #8 site.
The $2-million loan/grant financing package is paying for the water well, which is necessary as an auxiliary and emergency backup supply for the city of Belen. When completed, the new well will connect to the arsenic treatment facility filtration system. The construction of the new water well is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
“These two projects are good examples how Rural Development provides access to safe water in rural New Mexico and across America,” Dominguez said.
Belen Mayor Robert Noblin said the city council and staff told those in attendance at the event that they have a responsibility to keep the citizens safe with clean drinking water.
“The now-operational arsenic treatment facility, which was made possible with a collaboration with the USDA … ensures that our residents will have clean and safe water,” Noblin said.
Local, state and federal officials broke ground on a new back-up water well in Belen on Friday. Pictured, from left, are Belen City Councilor Frank Ortega, N.M. Sen. Joshua Sanchez, Angelo Champion, aide to U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Belen City Councilor Steve Holdman, Belen Mayor Robert Noblin, SDA Rural Development State Director Patricia Dominguez, DeChellie Gray, aide to U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury and Belen City Councilor Tracy Armijo.
Last year, the mayor and some city councilors visited with “enthusiastic” students at Central Elementary, who he said were creative in their reasoning why arsenic shouldn’t be in our drinking water.
Quoting Jane Goodall, an English primatologist and anthropologist, Noblin said, “‘You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.’ So make sure it’s a positive one.”
Clara Garcia is the editor and publisher of the Valencia County News-Bulletin.
She is a native of the city of Belen, beginning her journalism career at the News-Bulletin in 1998 as the crime and courts reporter. During her time at the paper, Clara has won numerous awards for her writing, photography and typography and design both from the National Newspaper Association and the New Mexico Press Association.
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April 18, 2024
