11-25-2025 1:03pm

Rio Rancho’s Water Crisis Brings Home the Urgency of Alamogordo’s Infrastructure Upgrades

Chris Edwards Editor

New water lines being installed by local contractor General Hydronics Utilities providing Alamogordo a sustainable water system for future generations- AlamogordoTownNews.org

This past weekend, Rio Rancho residents endured a catastrophic waterline break that left hundreds without service, flooded homes, and forced school closures. The rupture of a 24-inch main near Western Hills Drive and Lema Road sent water rushing at an estimated 2,000 gallons per minute, overwhelming neighborhoods and exposing the fragility of aging infrastructure.

Residents described the flooding as devastating. One homeowner, Phillip Sedillo, lost his house of 22 years after water gushed through walls and windows, destroying decades of memories. His wife, who is wheelchair-bound, was rushed to safety just in time.

By Sunday evening, officials reported substantial progress, but many residents continued to experience low water pressure until full system recharge was completed. The incident revealed the risks communities face when critical systems fail — risks that Alamogordo leaders say they are determined to prevent.

A Statewide and National Challenge

Rio Rancho’s crisis reflects a national pattern of aging water systems. Across the U.S., waterlines installed 50–100 years ago are failing, leading to outages, boil-water advisories, and costly emergency repairs. Cities from Jackson, Mississippi, to Baltimore, Maryland, and major metros like Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, and Denver have all faced similar breakdowns.

Recognizing this, the New Mexico Municipal League has identified water infrastructure investment as a top priority for the 2026 legislative session, stressing that delaying upgrades only increases risks and long-term costs.

Alamogordo’s Proactive Approach to Sustainability After Decades of Neglect

In contrast, Alamogordo has already moved aggressively to modernize its water system. After nearly a decade without rate increases, the City Commission approved a $160 million reinvestment in water and sewer infrastructure.

Key projects already underway and on the horizon include:

New York Avenue underground water and sewer line replacement, addressing one of the city’s most critical business corridors.

Oregon Street waterline and road improvements, currently underway from Scenic Drive to 10th Street, with expansion planned from 10th to 1st Street in 2026. This necessary work will serves as a critical line for city water infrastructure and a newly paved road.

Walker Road $12 million upgrade slotted for 2026, targeting an area whose water infrastructure has been neglected for over 70 years. This project will replace failing underground lines, add valves and improve water pressure plus repave some above-ground roads, ensuring comprehensive renewal.

Outgoing Mayor Susan Payne emphasized sustainability as a guiding principle of these investments as a cornerstone to her vision as a city leader, while incoming Mayor-Elect Sharon McDonald has championed the plan wholeheartedly. McDonald’s District 5 — the city’s oldest inner neighborhood — has historically been the most neglected for infrastructure improvements. The Walker Road project, alongside the New York Avenue completion, is seen as critical to reversing multiple decades of underinvestment and ensuring long-term stability.

Why Alamogordo Had to Act

The events in Rio Rancho serve as a stark reminder of what happens when aging systems fail. Alamogordo’s proactive reinvestment demonstrates how strategic foresight and planning, making those hard and not always popular decisions can protect communities from disruption. By acting decisively, Alamogordo is not only safeguarding its citizens but also setting an example for municipalities across New Mexico as the state prepares to prioritize water infrastructure in 2026.

This investment allows Alamogordo to:

• Replace aging and failing lines and roads

• Strengthen long-term system reliability

• Minimize emergency shutdowns

• Support future community growth

Rate adjustments are never easy, and always unpopular but taking action now helps prevent the widespread outages like those Rio Rancho residents endured. Acting now and enduring the recent rate increases ensures that costs don’t further skyrocket beyond the point of no return or a potential state takeover of local water infrastructure due to neglect. The forward-looking approach by Mayor Payne, Mayor Elect McDonald and the seated commissioners protects citizens, preserves essential services, and positions Alamogordo for long-term stability and growth for generations to come.