FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

April 8, 2025

Contact: Deputy Town Manager Mark Flores at mflores@taosnm.gov or 575-737-2628

“Pueblo Vault” Project Celebrates Milestone of Collaboration

TAOS, N.M. – The long-awaited Pueblo Wastewater Metering Vault (“Pueblo Vault”) infrastructure project has come to fruition through collaboration between the Town of Taos and Taos Pueblo and the renewal of the joint wastewater service “Interconnection Agreement,” led by Town of Taos Mayor Pascualito Maestas and former Taos Pueblo Governor Gary Lujan.

To commemorate this achievement, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the installation of the “Pueblo Vault” Wednesday, April 16, at 11:00 a.m., at the end of Cohn Lane off of Paseo del Pueblo Norte.

The Interconnection Agreement, first implemented in 1983, allows delivery of Pueblo wastewater to the Town for wastewater treatment.

Maestas said the Pueblo Vault groundbreaking ceremony and the renewal of the Interconnection Agreement are milestones that highlight the longstanding partnership between the Town and Pueblo.

“The Pueblo only has one wastewater connection and their system ties into ours,” said Maestas. “The Vault is tied to the Interconnection Agreement because the vault is the meter in-between their infrastructure and ours.”

Town of Taos Deputy Town Manager Mark Flores said the Pueblo Vault has been redesigned and upgraded to accurately meter the wastewater effluent exiting Taos Pueblo and entering the town wastewater system and to ensure environmental regulatory compliance.

“Investing in the wastewater metering vault highlights the Town of Taos’ commitment to continuous infrastructure improvements that will positively benefit our community and protect our environment far into the future,” said Flores. “The vault will provide a secure and controlled environment for the installation and maintenance of a flow meter and water quality measuring instrumentation that will enable precise measurements of wastewater discharge.”

Maestas explained that the 1983 Interconnection Agreement between the Town and the Pueblo had a duration of forty years and was set to expire in 2023. In 2023, he made it a priority to work with former Governor Gary Lujan to recodify the Interconnection Agreement.

“It’s another forty-year agreement so it will go to 2063,” said Maestas. “We were able to focus on what was important, make some concessions on both sides, and get this agreement signed.”

Maestas says rebuilding the relationship with the Pueblo has been a priority for him since he took office as Mayor of Taos.

“My first official meeting was actually with Taos Pueblo,” said Maestas. “Over the years we have been working quite closely together and this is another example of strengthening the partnership. It goes beyond water and wastewater. We are sharing the Valley together and we have to be able to work together on many other issues.”

Flores added that the Pueblo Vault is vital to accurately measuring and managing wastewater flow and will provide critical data to assist in optimizing the processes at the Town of Taos wastewater treatment plant. The new vault will also help to prevent damage and excessive strain to infrastructure within the plant that could lead to costly overflows and environmental violations, he said.

“Accurate flow data will allow our wastewater treatment plant operators to adjust the treatment processes dependent on monitored flow rates,” said Flores. “The metering vault will also allow the Town of Taos to monitor effluent quality and ensure efficient removal of any pollutants and contaminants.”

Maestas indicated that the Interconnection Agreement and the new Pueblo Vault can serve as a model for the region and ensure greater accuracy and fairness in how neighboring communities are charged for wastewater treatment, minimizing disputes.

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