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Welcome To The Lower Arroyo Hondo MDWCA
About Us
A Very Brief History
The LAHMDWCA is a non-profit community organization incorporated in 1969 to provide water to residents of the Lower Arroyo Hondo [Est. 1815] Community. The Association and water delivery system were established and installed in 1968, and during the early seventies, after the late Mrs. Anita Chacon, a lifelong resident of Arroyo Hondo, and her family generously donated a small plot of land where the water storage tank is located. The current tank was installed in 2014 after the original tank had to be replaced after being in service for over forty years.
The original main service lines, still in use today, were initially installed by a group of locals from in and around the community who could run a backhoe and bury a pipe at proper grade for the unbelievably low cost of just under $14,000, according to available historical records.
Furthermore, no evidence was found showing that the services of a professional engineering firm or any large contracting companies were used at any time during the initial installation. Notably, available records also show that the project was completed with minimal participation and oversight by the State or State agencies—probably why they could complete the job in a reasonable amount of time, considering the sparse resources.
Among the names referenced as people who were active participants in the initial installation of the Lower Arroyo Hondo community water delivery system include Mr. Frank Armijo, Mr. Armando Jaramillo, Mr. Carlos Rendon, Mr. William Kittridge, Mr. Fred Jaramillo; Mr. Richard Baca; and Mr. Ruben Martinez – All of whom are deceased, but would probably be pleased to know that the system they installed in the early 1970s, as members of the community, for members of the community, has withstood the test of time, and still delivers water reliably, to mostly the same homes, and many of the same residents in 2023, over half a century later.
Their work is a testament to the determination, skillfulness, and common-sense characteristics of the people of Arroyo Hondo.
Only a few individuals who worked on the project are mentioned by name in the official record. However, documents show that many others not named here contributed to the project's early and ongoing success.
Unfortunately, utility infrastructure does not last forever. The natural laws of physics apply to each part of the water delivery system, limiting the useful life of components. The Lower Arroyo Hondo MDWCA’s water delivery system has exceeded its expected useful life. It must be entirely replaced for many reasons, including but not limited to the need to comply with State and Federal Water and Sanitation standards and regulations and address leakage and other problems posed by an aging system.
After more than a decade of planning and replacement of the main storage tank, the Board was able to secure funding for the first of what will be a multi-phased project. The necessary permits were granted, and Phase 1 was completed in 2023 by File Construction under the Engineering of Souder Miller & Associates. The initial phase relocated and replaced the main water line from the well-house, extending North along the West side of Highway 522 up to Midtown Market, then Westward, down Old Highway 3, under the Rio Hondo, where it connects to the existing system on the near the old Tito’s Market.
Souder Miller & Associates completed a new preliminary engineering report [PER] in 2025, paid for with State Grant Money. This report is required before further construction can proceed, as the previous PER expired after ten years. In 2025, the Association’s board plans to pursue additional State and Federal Grant money to complete the design for Phase 2 of the project, which is expected to finish replacing the existing 50+-year-old mainline throughout the community and install meters at each member's connection point.
In addition, the board has received funding to purchase a small portable building to serve as an office and storage space for the Association's records and tools and as a permanent meeting location near the well-house at the existing property.
The new PER provides a broad overview of the system and community and presents several possible alternatives for future expansion. It also includes much other information about the land, water tables, soil types, etc. While interesting, no immediate plans exist to expand beyond our service area. For now, the Association’s primary focus will be replacing the current system and connecting our existing members.
