Las Vegas to Build New Water Treatment Plant for Future Security

New Water Treatment Plant to Bolster Las Vegas Water Supply

Construction of a new water treatment plant in Las Vegas, New Mexico, is set to begin this summer, nearly doubling the city’s water capacity and ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for future generations. The project, a collaboration between the City of Las Vegas and the New Mexico Environment Department, represents a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure.

The new facility will address critical upgrades to the city’s water treatment systems, incorporating optimized pre-treatment processes to improve the removal of cloudiness and natural debris. It will also feature granular activated carbon filters designed to reduce dissolved materials that can affect the taste, odor, and color of the water.

“This new treatment plant is a signal that investment in Las Vegas is not stopping,” stated New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney. “Alongside our ongoing improvements to Las Vegas’ water system — made in partnership between the City of Las Vegas and the New Mexico Environment Department — this project is assuring safe and reliable drinking water for generations to come.”

Currently, the city’s water treatment system has a capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day. The new plant will initially increase that capacity to 3.56 million gallons per day, serving a population of approximately 14,880 residents. The design also allows for future expansion to 5 million gallons per day, anticipating the city’s long-term growth and water security needs.

Las Vegas Mayor David Romero emphasized the city’s commitment to water quality and reliability. “Delivering on water quality, quantity, reliability, and a strong water future has been the commitment of myself and the entire governing body,” Romero said. “We have made tremendous progress toward those goals, and there is so much more to come.”

The project builds upon recent improvements to the city’s water and wastewater systems, including the installation of new pretreatment filter beds, debris and sediment removal from the Gallinas River, and the extension and replacement of overflow drains.

Funding for the new water treatment plant is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Claims Office and state funding allocated in response to the impact of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and subsequent flooding. These events caused widespread system outages and boil water advisories, highlighting the vulnerability of the city’s aging infrastructure.

City officials note that the existing water system is over 60 years old and in urgent need of replacement to guarantee clean drinking water for residents and businesses.

The project timeline indicates that the treatment plant design will be finalized in late spring 2026, with groundbreaking scheduled for late summer 2026. Simultaneously with the groundbreaking, the city will install new Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters at the existing water treatment plant to maintain safe and reliable drinking water throughout the construction period.