Characterization of Transboundary Aquifers in the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez/Las Cruces Region of the US/Mexico Border

1. Purpose and Objectives: This study is a joint effort by the governments of the United States and Mexico and the States of Texas and New Mexico designed to identify the region’s transboundary aquifers, quantify the natural and induced chemical quality of each aquifer, characterize and quantify the available supply of each aquifer, determine the direction of ground water flow and its relationship to the flow of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, and develop Geographic Information System coverages of the region.

The New Mexico portion of the study will also include a Sunland Park, NM public water system investigation to determine the cause of and recommend solutions to nematodes and other invasive organisms in the distribution systems. This portion of the study was a separate contract from the initial study.

2. Funding: EPA awarded $50,000 to the Texas Water Development Board for the Texas and Mexico portion of the study. EPA awarded $74,821 to New Mexico State University’s Water Resource Research Institute for the New Mexico portion of the study. Additional funding has been allocated for further continuance of the project.

3. Partners: EPA Region 6, Texas Water Development Board, Water Resource Research Institute (NMSU), Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA), City of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Comisión Nacional Del Agua (CNA), and Junta Municipal de Agua y Saneamiento (JMAS).

4. Description: The project will review existing literature and water quality information to identify gaps where additional information is needed to characterize the area’s shared ground water resources. The study will be “blind” to political boundaries and will focus on the chemical and physical characteristics of the aquifers. The study uses well-established hydrogeological, hydrochemical and numerical modeling techniques to trace ground-water flowpaths, to assess regional water quality, and to define aquifer recharge and discharge areas and areas susceptible to contamination.

5. Status: The study has been completed

6.)Results: Not available, completed document is being reviewed and has not been published.

7. U.S. Contacts: Ken Williams, EPA Project Officer, (214) 665-7129 Bobby Creel, NMSU-WRRI, (505) 646-4337