STATE
Truth or Consequences shuts off water citywide
Broken water pump and main caused well levels to plummet
Published
Modified
Water access was cut off citywide in Truth or Consequences Monday after well levels plunged, according to a post on the town鈥檚 social media.
Monday morning, T or C residents were asked to conserve water due to a broken pump that had caused well levels to drop to 4 feet. By 2 p.m., the city shut off water across T or C after a contractor accidentally broke a main water line while working on an infrastructure project.
Together, the broken infrastructure caused well levels to plummet to about 1 foot, the post detailed.
Repairs are already underway, said city spokesperson Carrie Gaston. Gaston estimated full water access to be restored by Tuesday morning, although she urged residents to continue conserving water until told otherwise.
Schools planned to close Tuesday.
Water leaks have long been a problem in T or C, as aging infrastructure gives out. Past reporting indicates that in recent years, T or C has lost up to 25% of its water supply to persistent leaks.
The water main break on Monday happened during work that is part of an $80 million project to repair the city鈥檚 water infrastructure, Gaston said.
鈥淚t was a bad, perfect storm,鈥� said city spokesperson Carrie Gaston.
Gillian Barkhurst is a general assignment reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.
