As the City of Sunland Park (City) moves forward with incorporating the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) as the City’s new Water and Wastewater Utility Department, it continues to initiate improvements to the wastewater system.

On Sep. 18, 2025, the City was awarded a New Mexico Colonias Grant for the construction of a new lift station in the Riverside area to help reduce wastewater backup. The new lift station will replace the existing vacuum station that has experienced a series of breakdowns that resulted in sewage overflow.

Lift stations transfer wastewater from lower to higher elevations as the wastewater travels to sewage treatment plants.

“Once the new Riverside lift station is operational, residents in the area can expect a drastic reduction in wastewater spills,” said CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby.

The new Riverside lift station is a coordinated effort between the City and CRRUA of the Riverside Drive road improvement project completed in May 2025 that included upgrades to the neighborhood's water and wastewater infrastructure. 

As part of the systemwide wastewater improvement program, CRRUA recently completed the replacement and rehabilitation of 14-manholes in its service area that includes Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, NM.

“A manhole is a vertical concrete shell 48-inches in diameter with a round metal lid that provides access to underground sewer pipes,” said CRRUA Utility Operations Manager Filiberto Aguirre. “The pipes transport wastewater to lift stations and treatment facilities and require ongoing inspection and maintenance to ensure proper flow.” 

Aguirre said the manholes allow utility workers to inspect sewer lines using flexible cameras and to clean, or jet, the lines using high-pressure water that removes sediment buildup, grease and sludge that accumulates on the inside of the pipes.

He said the manholes are spaced 250 to 500-feet apart depending on the terrain. “Over time, the concrete shells deteriorate and need to be replaced or rehabilitated.” 

According to CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby, project funding was part of a $5 million special legislative appropriation obtained by State Rep. Raymundo Lara, (D) District 34, to finance wastewater projects in Dona Ana County.

“We thank Representative Lara for obtaining the funding to conduct this vital infrastructure improvement operation that will help maintain continued, reliable service delivery,” Crosby said.

In addition, both the CRRUA board of directors and the Sunland Park City Council approved a development agreement in September 2025 for the financing and construction of cell #2, a one-million gallon per day expansion to the North Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“The expansion is necessary to provide additional wastewater treatment capacity to serve both current and future developments in Sunland Park and its service area,” said Sunland Park City Manager Mario Juarez-Infante. “Approval of the development agreement also represents an essential step in the creation and operation of the City of Sunland Park Water and Wastewater Utility Department of what is now CRRUA,” he said.

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