Residents in Hanover and Fierro faced a water crisis this week after a water line break left about 30 households without water for four days. The break, which occurred at N.M. 152 near the Santa Rita Shrine, took time to locate due to the leaking water flowing into a creek instead of surfacing.
Gilbert Cruz, president of the Hanover Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association, spearheaded the repair efforts, working with crews from the village of Santa Clara to excavate the broken water line. Due to safety regulations, a friend with a backhoe had to be brought in to finish the excavation process.
Temporary measures were put in place to restore water service while ongoing repairs are being conducted. Cruz mentioned that repairs to the water line to Vanadium are challenging due to pressure issues, but plans are in place to supply water from Bayard until repairs are complete.
Local residents, including the Amador brothers, stepped up to help their neighbors during the water crisis, organizing water storage tanks and reaching out to the community for assistance. State Rep. Luis Terrazas and mining company Freeport-McMoRan also contributed by providing drinking water for the affected residents.
The incident shed light on the challenges facing the Hanover water system, with Cruz attributing the break to the use of substandard pipes and past mismanagement. The situation prompted county officials to take action, with an emergency meeting scheduled to consider declaring an emergency and requesting funding for the water association.
Despite the challenges faced, the community spirit and resilience displayed by residents in coming together during the crisis highlighted the strength and unity of the Hanover and Fierro communities.
