Updated: New well for Questa could take four to five days

The village of Questa says problems related to its water utility are being caused by a well that is not producing "sufficient water" for the system.

A press release from the village late on Dec. 8 said crews would begin drilling a new, 500-foot-deep well adjacent to the current well, near Questa Jr./High School. The release said the village expects the process to take four to five days to complete.

"In the interim, the Village Administrative Office will remain the distribution location for Questa residents to receive bottled water for consumption and non-potable water for household needs," the release states. "The boil water advisory and the conservation request to residences and businesses on the municipal water system remain in effect."

The release said village activities, including the North Central Food Pantry food distribution and the Alumbra de Questa Christmas Crafts Market, will proceed as scheduled.

The Village offices will open for regular hours on Friday, Dec. 9, and will open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Please contact Village of Questa personnel at (575) 586-0694 or (575) 586-0697 with any questions or issues.

Questa Mayor Mark Gallegos told The Taos News Dec. 7 the village suspected one of the village's two wells was "sucking air," meaning the water system could not provide an adequate supply of water for its customers. Gallegos said the current well may need to be drilled 200 feet deeper in order to hit a more productive aquifer.

State records show the system serves about 1,850 people in Questa.

School in Questa has been cancelled through the end of the week because of the outage

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