Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Deputy Manager James Alarid, center, along with Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Chair Stephen Tobin, center right, snip the ceremonial ribbon Friday morning on Otowi Well #2, which is near N.M. 4 and East Jemez Road. Alarid said this project was a long time coming; he noted that a RFP was first issued for the well in 2016. The project faced geological challenges and then the pandemic hit, which caused delays. However, it paid off because Alarid reported that Otowi Well #2 is one of the best producing wells the utilities department owns. It pumps 1,300 gallons of potable water a minute from the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin and provides it to White Rock as well as Los Alamos National Laboratory. ‘It feels good,’ Alarid said, adding that he commends everyone involved in the well. ‘It really was a team effort … we appreciate everyone’s work,’ he said. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
DPU Manager James Alarid speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning for Otowi Well #2, which is the 13th well on the utility department’s system. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
From left, BPU Chair Stephen Tobin, BPU board member Cornell Wright and DPU Manager Philo Shelton chat during Friday’s event for Otowi Well #2. ‘I’m relieved that we finally got it online,’ Shelton said. ‘It’s been a long-term project for a multitude of reasons but it’s one of our best producing wells.’ Tobin added, ‘It’s an investment in our community to give better resources for future generations.’ Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
County officials and contractors socialized in the space that will house the natural gas generator for the well. DPU Deputy Manager James Alarid explained that the well is a hybrid – it has electric and natural gas generators. When electric rates are low, the electric generator will power the well and when natural gas rates are low, the well will be powered by natural gas. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Scene from the side of Otowi Well #2. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
