Mayor: New Mexico village could be without water for weeks
A leak in the system combined with monsoon rains is responsible for the outage
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Updated: 6:30 PM MDT Jun 20, 2022
SYSTEM HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. STEPHANIE: THE VILLAGE OF CHAMA IS NO STRANGER TO WATER PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE BEEN LOSING WATER SINCE MAY. AND THIS MORNING THEY WOKE UP TO NO WATER AT ALL. THE VILLAGE OF CHAMA HAS AROUND 2000 RESIDENTS. TODAY AS THEY TURN THE FAUCET ON, NOTHING COMES OUT. >> WE DO NOT HAVE ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS. WE NEED HELP TODAY, NOW, RIGHT NOW. STEPHANIE: THE CITY IS PROVIDING DRINKING WATER AT CITY HALL. BUT THE QUESTION ON PEOPLE’S MIND, WHEN WILL WATER BE RESTORED? >> I THINK WE’RE BEING IGNORED. IT BOTHERS ME. RIGHT NOW, CHAMA DOESN’T MATTER. STEPHANIE: THE STATE SAY 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER WILL BE GIVEN OUT IN CHAMA. HOWEVER, THE MAYOR SAYS THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. >> THIS IS NOT EVEN ENOUGH WATER TO WASH OUR TANKS IN A DAY. WE TRIED TELLING THEM THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE WHAT THEY GIVE US. THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE. IT IS KILLING ME THAT I HAVE NO ANSWER. STEPHANIE: THERE IS STILL NO DEFINITIVE TIMELINE TO WHEN THE WATER WILL BE RESTORED. REPORTING IN CHAMA, STEPHANIE MUNIZ, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. SHELLY: THE VILLAGE HAS $800,000 IN CAPITOL OUTLAYS FROM LAST YEAR TO UPDATE ITS WATER SYSTEMS AND FIX THAT LEAK. THE STATE SAYS IT’S COMMITTED TO HELPING THE VILLAGE OF CHA
Mayor: New Mexico village could be without water for weeks
A leak in the system combined with monsoon rains is responsible for the outage
![KOAT logo]()
Updated: 6:30 PM MDT Jun 20, 2022
The Village of Chama is alerting residents they may be without water for weeks. Mayor Ernest Vigil told KOAT, that if you live in Chama and turn on the tap at your kitchen sink, nothing will come out. Vigil explained it is a problem stemming from a combination of a water leak city leaders knew about, combined with issues from monsoon rains. Chama has a population of 1,000 but has swelled to about 2,000 with the summer tourist season. The mayor said he's considering adding signs along the highway warning travelers to not stop because there's no clean water for drinking or sanitation.Drinking water is available for residents at 1512 State Road 17.
CHAMA, N.M. — The Village of Chama is alerting residents they may be without water for weeks. Mayor Ernest Vigil told KOAT, that if you live in Chama and turn on the tap at your kitchen sink, nothing will come out.
Vigil explained it is a problem stemming from a combination of a water leak city leaders knew about, combined with issues from monsoon rains.
Chama has a population of 1,000 but has swelled to about 2,000 with the summer tourist season. The mayor said he's considering adding signs along the highway warning travelers to not stop because there's no clean water for drinking or sanitation.
Drinking water is available for residents at 1512 State Road 17.
