Sandia Peak Utility Company
Fire & Emergency Preparedness
Our commitment to fire protection and emergency preparedness — and the steps you can take to protect your household.
Our Commitment to Fire Protection and Emergency Preparedness
Sandia Peak Utility Company continually strengthens its water system to better respond to wildfire risks in New Mexico and provide customers in Sandia Heights, Primrose Pointe, North Tramway Estates, Hawks Landing and Las Pradas with safe, reliable water for daily needs and emergency fire protection.
We work closely with regional agencies including Bernalillo County Fire/Rescue, Emergency Management, the Sheriff's Department, Cibola National Forest Service & Grasslands, and New Mexico State Police to enhance wildfire preparedness and coordinated response.
Our team regularly reviews and updates system capabilities, operations and maintenance procedures, the Emergency Response Plan, and the Wildfire Preparedness and Response Plan. Recent coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires noted that residential water systems are generally not designed for catastrophic fire protection, but we remain committed to using our system effectively and following best practices.
Over the past three decades, we have substantially increased pumping and storage capacity, strengthened redundancy, and improved communication and security systems to better protect our community.
- Increased water storage: An additional one-million-gallon tank was added in 1994 to improve supply during peak demand and power interruptions.
- Love Well #4: A third deep well was added in 2012 for redundancy (only 2 wells are needed for current peak demand).
- Love Well Yard and Shop Complex: Built in 2017 to improve maintenance and equipment readiness.
- Infrastructure upgrades: Ongoing replacement of aging pipes and fire hydrants, and updates to pumps and monitoring.
- Security improvements: Fencing, cameras, and 24-hour remote monitoring of all sensitive infrastructure.
- AMI water meters: Have decreased water loss throughout the service area.
Sandia Peak Utility continues to strengthen its emergency preparedness through a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan covering wildfires, power outages, natural disasters, and water contamination.
Our team implements wildfire-mitigation measures around all water facilities. We use temporary diesel generators as backup power during extended outages. A full system evaluation was recently completed by Bohannan Huston Engineering to ensure operational redundancy. Fire hydrants are routinely inspected, tested, and exercised in partnership with Bernalillo County Fire Department.
We continually assess well performance and system capacity remaining committed to best-practice operations. Finally, we prioritize community outreach and education to ensure residents stay informed and prepared.
What You Can Do to Prepare
While we are committed to ensuring a reliable water supply, we also encourage our customers to take proactive steps in emergency preparedness:
- Take fire-prevention steps to protect your property:
- Clear dead bushes, trees, and other combustible vegetation around your home.
- Remove debris from your roof and keep gutters free of leaves.
- Keep decks, porches, and surrounding areas clear of flammable materials.
- Expand your defensible space by trimming vegetation and creating a firebreak.
- Stay informed: Join our emergency text alerts and check our website for real-time updates on potential threats in your area. How to join.
- Prepare an emergency kit: Include bottled water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, and other essentials for you and your family.
- Develop a family emergency plan: Discuss and practice evacuation routes, meeting points, and communication plans. Designate one person as the family point of contact.
- Create and practice evacuation routes: Identify multiple routes from your home and community, make sure everyone in your household knows them, set a meeting point outside the danger zone, and plan transportation for pets and anyone with mobility challenges.
- Review and update your plan regularly: Wildfire risk changes over time, so keep your plan current and practice evacuation drills.
By taking these steps and planning ahead, you'll be better prepared to protect your loved ones and your property in the event of a wildfire.
Learn more about protecting your home
For a deeper dive into wildfire preparation, we've linked to an expert article from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). This guide provides valuable information on how to protect your home, reduce wildfire risks, and increase the overall safety of your property.
Read the full article here: IBHS Wildfire Ready Article.
A big thank you to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety for sharing this crucial wildfire protection information.