Alamogordo N.M. – After decades of deferred maintenance and underinvestment, Alamogordo is taking decisive action to modernize its aging water infrastructure and secure the community’s long-term water future.

Alamogordo Mayor Sharon McDonald announced via a press release and via social media that the city has approved the initial $28 million financing package for critical water and wastewater improvements, with several additional projects currently in design and heading to the bidding process.

The comprehensive plan addresses approximately $160.4 million in critical infrastructure needs identified through an independent rate study—a sobering figure that reflects years of neglected upkeep and the rising costs of modernization in the face of regional drought and declining water supplies.

A Crisis Averted Through Proactive Leadership

“Across New Mexico, we are seeing how quickly water challenges can become a crisis,” Mayor McDonald stated in a recent address to residents. “Alamogordo is not immune, but years of responsible planning have placed our community in a stronger position to respond.”

The city’s water challenges are not unique to Alamogordo. Across the state and region, municipalities are struggling with aging infrastructure, declining water supplies, and the escalating costs of deferred maintenance. Without intervention, Alamogordo risks facing the same water emergencies that neighboring communities are now confronting.

What sets Alamogordo apart is the current commitment to prevention rather than crisis management—a shift that began approximately three years ago under the leadership of former Mayor Susan Payne and Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez and continues today under Mayor McDonald, city manager Stockwell and city leadership.

Years of Neglect Demand Urgent Action

The numbers tell a stark story. Some of Alamogordo’s water infrastructure dates back over a century. The intake tower and cover at the La Luz reservoir, scheduled for replacement, were installed in 1914. Water storage tanks, transmission lines, and miles of aging pipelines form a system that, while still functional, is increasingly vulnerable to failures and service interruptions.

“This work should have been completed years ago,” Mayor McDonald noted. “Delaying it further would only increase the risk of system failures, emergency repairs, service interruptions, and higher future costs.”

The independent rate study that prompted the city’s action examined the condition of Alamogordo’s water system, future operating costs, infrastructure needs, and the financing required to complete necessary work. The findings were clear: without investment, the city faced growing risks to water quality, pressure, fire protection, and service reliability.

A Multi-Year Commitment to Infrastructure

The $28 million initial financing package represents just the beginning of a multi-year commitment to rebuild Alamogordo’s water infrastructure. While some projects will be highly visible as construction reaches city streets, others—equally critical—will remain largely unseen by residents.

Approved projects include:

• Water Storage and Tanks: More than $7 million to rehabilitate the final three water-storage tanks in the current program

• Alamogordo owned La Luz Reservoir Improvements: Replacement of the intake tower and cover, with portions of infrastructure dating back to 1914

• System-Wide Upgrades: Replacement of water meters citywide

• Neighborhood Projects: Water and sewer improvements in Granada Hills, the Alaska and Post Office area, Oregon Avenue Phase 2, and White Sands Boulevard

• Highway Corridor Work: Projects along U.S. Highways 54 and 70

• Behind-the-Scenes Infrastructure: Well rehabilitation, pipeline replacement, source-water assessments, and water and sewer planning

Several additional projects are currently in design, with more to follow as the city works through its comprehensive infrastructure plan.

Understanding the Rate Impact

The city’s commitment to infrastructure has required difficult decisions, including rate increases that many residents have felt in their utility bills. Mayor McDonald acknowledged the burden this places on families already stretched by rising costs for groceries, insurance, electricity, and other necessities.

“I understand the frustration residents feel,”the mayor said. “Families are already paying more for groceries, insurance, electricity, and other necessities. Any additional expense matters, and I do not dismiss the burden on our residents.”

However, she emphasized that rate increases were not arbitrary decisions made in isolation. The process began approximately three years before the City Commission took its final vote, allowing time for thorough review and planning.

“The adopted rates were necessary for the City to qualify for financing, maintain water-quality standards, improve water pressure and fire protection, and reduce the risk of line breaks and service interruptions,” Mayor McDonald explained.

Building Long-Term Water Security

While Alamogordo has worked for decades to build and protect a strong, diverse water portfolio and continues pursuing opportunities to secure additional water rights, the city recognizes that having water available is only part of the equation.

“We must also maintain the systems needed to deliver that water safely and reliably,” the mayor stated.

This dual commitment—securing water supplies while maintaining delivery infrastructure—positions Alamogordo to avoid the crises unfolding in other communities across the arid West.

Transparency and Public Engagement

Recognizing residents’ right to know how their money is being spent, the Mayor and the City Commission has committed to regular public updates on water infrastructure projects. The Utilities Department provides quarterly updates during a City Commission meeting in the second month of each quarter.

“Residents deserve to know where their money is going,” Mayor McDonald stated. Meeting agendas are posted at least three days in advance, and residents may submit questions to their commissioners for discussion during public updates.

The complete utility rate study and supporting documentation are available on the city’s website at https://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/311/Water-Utility-Billing.

A Turning Point

For years, Alamogordo’s water infrastructure received minimal attention and investment. 

The transition to proactive, comprehensive planning under former Mayor Payne and continued under Mayor McDonald and city leadership represents a fundamental shift in how the community addresses one of its most critical assets.

“While remaining mindful of the very real impact higher rates can have on our residents, thoughtful decisions and responsible leadership help protect the long-term well-being of our community and prevent a manageable challenge from becoming a crisis,” Mayor McDonald concluded.

As construction begins across the city, residents will see tangible evidence of this commitment. 

More importantly, they can take comfort knowing their water future is being taken seriously—before it becomes an emergency and done in a transparent fashion. 

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