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AV Water Boil Advisory Timeline

By djohnston792000

  • NMPRC hearing ordering Mark Iuppenlatz to appear. AV did not comply

    Neither Iuppenlatz nor any of the other representatives attended today's hearing. Instead, only two attorneys — one for AV Water and the other for Iuppenlatz. Michelle Henrie, who represents Iuppenlatz and the AV Water affiliates, said her clients who did not attend the hearing were exercising their Fifth Amendment right,

  • Boil advisory called

    No customers notified
  • Period: to

    AV Water Boil Advisory

  • First boil advisory lifted

  • NMED conducts site visits

    NMED finds 29 deficiencies in the Morningstar system and 21 in the Harvest gold system

  • 2nd boil advisory issued

    NMED issued Boil Water Advisory for the Morningstar and Harvest Gold systems on behalf of AV Water; instructed AV Water to notify customers

  • San Juan County issued Emergency Declaration

    NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn issued Emergency Order #1 to ensure progress was being made to resolve the water quality issues and to temporarily exempt AV Water from specific regulatory requirements to facilitate a quick resolution, with regulatory requirements to be addressed immediately upon completion of constructing a connection to the Farmington Water System July 15th

  • Customers lose water

    Panorama Heights, Star Heights, and Vista Heights. Still no notification of boil advisory from AV Water. Customers spring into action to help their community. AV Water does nothing.

  • City of Farmington announces it will supply clean potable water

    The City of Farmington is pleased to announce that it will supply clean potable water to the Animas Valley Water (AVW) System through a bulk water supply contract. Water will be delivered from Farmington to a main line meter supplying the AVW system itself through an interconnect created during the Gold King Mine Spill.

  • NMED issues 1st emergency order

    NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn issued Emergency Order #1 to ensure progress was being made to resolve the water quality issues and to temporarily exempt AV Water from specific regulatory requirements to facilitate a quick resolution, with regulatory requirements to be addressed immediately upon completion of constructing a connection to the Farmington Water System

  • Star Heights and Vista Heights get water back

    Panorama still without water

  • AV Water states they have a blocked or broken line in Panorama or Star Heights Heights

    Customers were given conflicting reasons for water outages, when in fact the tanks had been allowed to run dry.

  • Resident calls Emergency Managment

    AV Water does not report anything to the SJCOEM

  • SJCOEM opens up water station and brings in emergency bottled water

    American Red Cross and SJC Volunteer Firefighters collect bottled water for customers.

  • AV Water issues update on the 2nd day of water outage

    AVW users update
    Per AVW:
    The AVW workers are in the process of repairing a line break and hooking up to City of Farmington water.
    If you are still experiencing an outage on Monday, please contact the AVW office.
    The boil advisory is still in effect.

  • Volunteers begin going door to door

    Volunteers began going door to door to assist the elderly, disabled, or in need of assistance with bottled water and water buckets. Thank you to Jason, Mary, Shiela, Robert, and all the others out there who helped their neighbors through this difficult time. You are appreciated beyond words.

  • M&R Trucking and Hydropure begin filling tanks

    Companies fill tanks around the clock

  • Water Pallet Challenge

    There was a challenge issued to companies in San Juan County by Williams Field Services to donate pallets of water to AV Water customers.There was also a volunteer program set up to get clean water to livestock.

  • AV Water closes after accusing customers of making threats

  • Shear Kreation Salon offers free shampoo and condition to people without water

  • 2nd emergency order

    NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn issued Emergency Order #2 to ensure progress was being made timely and appropriately to resolve issue. This order mandates 12 actions including identification and repair of distribution system deficiencies, development of water conservation measures with public notice and daily written progress reports to NMED. AV Water to connect to Farmington by July 15th.

  • Water restored to Panorama Heights

  • The Red Cross Cooling Center has been shut down.

  • First community meeting

    Community members found they all had high bills, illnesses, and water quality problems. Animas Valley Water Protesters collected first complaints

  • NMPRC public meeting

    NMPRC stated AV had not violated any rules. Customers show evidence

  • First notification by AV Water

    First weekly update hand delivered to a select few one day late. Most customers on the Morningstar system and all of Harvest Gold not notified

  • Customers not receiving weekly notices

    166 customers report they have not received any notices from AVW ever

  • AV Water violation for Morningstar

    Notice of Violation that the Morningstar Water Supply System failed to submit monthly surface water operating reports (MORs) as required in 20.7.10.100 NMAC [incorporating 40 CFR Section 141.75(b) and 40 CFR 141.570] during the month June 2016.

  • AV Water violation issued for Harvest Gold

    Notice of Violation that the Harvest Gold Subdivision water system failed to submit monthly surface water operating reports (MORs) as required in 20.7.10.100 NMAC [incorporating 40 CFR Section 141.75(b) and 40 CFR 141.570] during the month of June 2016.

  • Bottled water distribution is discontinued at McGee Park

  • Farmington interconnection/ pump station not completed

    The July 15th deadline was not met. No changes for Harvest Gold

  • Dino's volunteers to take over bottled water distribution

    Ray Padilla donates three pallets of bottled water

  • Pump station complete

    AV Water tests the pump station. No changes for Harvest gold

  • Request for extension denied for Morningstar system

    AV water requests extension on emergency order requirements. Customers submit petition asking for denial. NMED denies request.

  • Morningstar lines set to be flushed

    No notice or conservation request sent to customers

  • Weekly notice mailed late

    Notice should have been mailed 07/22/16

  • Flush postponed

    AV Water postpones flushing and sites customer water usage too high

  • Customers ask community to conserve

    Customers go door to door and post notices asking for conservation for the flush. AV Water refuses to give volunteers a flushing schedule

  • Customers have conference call with AVW attorney

    Customers willing to volunteer with flushing notifications had conference call with AV attorney. Attorney refuses to give them information on what they will be delivering, when, how, and where. Customers state they cannot make any plans to help without the information and leave.

  • Flushing of the morningstar water system begins

    Star Heights and Vista Heights are flushed, part of star heights forgotten. Notification posted on individual mailbox doors of community mailboxes by AV Attorney. Many residents do not receive mail at these boxes and it begins to rain, ruining notices.

  • Weekly notice mailed late

    Notice should have been mailed by 07/29/16

  • AV Water violation for Morningstar

    Notice of Violation that the Morningstar Water Supply System failed to submit an acceptable corrective action plan and failed to correct 29 significant deficiencies identified during the 2 June 2016 inspection performed by Tanya Trujillo, Joseph Savage, Chris Cudia, and Joe Martinez of the New Mexico Environment Department-Drinking Water Bureau (NMED-DWB).

  • AV Water violation for Harvest Gold

    Notice of Violation that the Harvest Gold Subdivision water system failed to submit a corrective action plan and failed to correct the 21 significant deficiencies identified during the 2 June 2016 inspection performed by Tanya Trujillo, Joseph Savage, Chris Cudia, and Joe Martinez of the New Mexico Environment Department-Drinking Water Bureau (NMEDDWB

  • Panorama and Mesa Heights flushed

    Notices posted on mailboxes in Panorama Heights. No mailboxes in Mesa Heights, so no notifications posted.

  • Anasazi to be flushed, but PRV valve malfunctions

    PSI extremely high blowing out lines and water heaters

  • Customers ask about Arena Heights

    Arena Heights was flushed Aug 1st, but nobody received notification

  • Anasazi and Homestead flushed

    Notification taped to mailboxes. Ruby was grouped with homestead which created confusion.

  • Divers sent in to clean the half million gallon tank

    Million gallon tank scheduled for following week

  • AV Water puts out notice stating filter will be installed for Harvest Gold

    They state it will be installed the following Monday 08/08/16

  • Customer aids Jose in repairing PRV valve

  • Homestead reflushed

  • Weekly notice mailed late

    Notice should have been mailed out by 08/05/16

  • Morningstar flushed

  • AV Water told to stop taping notices to mailboxes

    All notices stop

  • Part of Wildflower flushed

  • Begin cleaning 3 million gal tank

  • The rest of Wildflower flushed

  • AV Water violation for Harvest Gold

    Notice of Violation that the Harvest Gold Subdivision water system failed to correct significant deficiencies identified during the 2 June 2016 inspection performed by Tanya Trujillo, Joseph Savage, Chris Cudia, and Joe Martinez of the New Mexico Environment Department-Drinking Water Bureau (NMED-DWB).

  • Weekly notice mailed late

    Notice should have been mailed by 08/12/16

  • Many customers report no notices received

    Many customers report they have received no notices from AV Water since boil advisory started

  • Customers ask about Harvest Gold

    AV failed to fix anything for Harvest Gold

  • Parts on Road 3000 flushed and some samples taken

    19 samples taken by third party. East end scheduled for following day

  • Many areas forgotton in the flush

    Customers from west of Williams Dr. on Morningstar. Lobo Ridge Dr. and Elk Ridge Ct, same subdivision. Dirt road north off Morningstar with 2houses no name, just east of Moonlight Mesa. Moonlight Mesa. Darla's Ln and Tranquility Ct, same road south off Morningstar and across from Moonlight Mesa called AV Water and were informed that they were not their customer! They pay AV Water and are hooked to the system!

  • People recieve large bills

    Some as high as $1500 for 11 days of service

  • All areas of the Morningstar system deemed flushed by AV Water

  • Weekly notice mailed out late

    Notice should have been mailed by 08/19/16

  • NMED issues Administrative Compliance Order for harvest gold

  • Morningstar customers report brown water again

  • AV attorney meets with customers over bills

    Customers dispute large bills. AV stated a computer glitch caused billing errors

  • AV Water states filter has been identified for Harvest Gold system

    AV Water states they are working with NMED for necessary approval to order and install the filter

  • Germaine Chapelle meets with customers about billing

    Germaine Chapelle was at AV Water's office from 2:00pm-4:30pm to meet with "folks" on concerns with their bills. Appointments were in 10 minute increments so that she could meet with as many people as possible. It was an information gathering meeting to evaluate the situation. She stated she would follow up later with an appropriate resolution.

  • NMED issues fines for Harvest Gold

    NMED fines AV $14,000

  • Weekly notice mailed out late

    Notice to be mailed to customers by Aug 26 was mailed to customers 3 days late. Some never receive it.

  • Boil advisory lifted for Morningstar system

    Harvest Gold still under boil advisory as nothing has been done to repair the system

  • PRC declines to hold hearing against AVW

    The vote was tied 2 to 2

  • Petition created to get hearing against AV Water

    Customers create a petition to have the NMPRC hold a hearing against AVW

  • AV Water mistakingly tells Harvest Gold not to boil

    AV Water sent a notice to harvest gold customers stating they did not have to boil their water. They are still on a boil order from NMED

  • Erin Brockovich gets involved

    Erin Brocovich posts to her Facebook page that she is opening an investigation into AVW

  • AV Water places bottled water at Harvest Gold treatment plant

    According to SJCOEM bottled water was delivered by AV Water to the Harvest Gold treatment plant

  • PRC votes to hold hearing against AV Water

    Residents go to PRC meeting and show proof why a hearing is needed. PRC unanimously votes for hearing. Hearing is scheduled Oct 12 AV Water ordered to notify residents.

  • Video of Harvest Gold water tank goes viral

    A video of the Harvest Gold water tank shows holes all over the tank plugged by sticks and boards

  • AV Water says they delivered water to Harvest Gold

    No residents received water from AVW

  • Brown water reported in the Morningstar system

    People report brown water

  • NMED admits they knew about condition of Harvest gold tank

    in July 2015 NMED did an inspection apparently they were already aware of what was going on

  • AV Water violation for Harvest Gold

    Failure to Correct Significant Deficiencies NOV

  • Customers protest AV Water and deliver water to Harvest Gold

    Customers held signs, and delivered a 500 gal tank + 2 pallets of water to residents of Harvest Gold

  • Morningstar customers lose water

    AV Water states there is a line break

  • Emergency order issued for Harvest Gold

    NMED issues emergency order and fines AVW $676,000 and $1,000 per day per violation AVW does not fix.

  • AV Water to install filter for Harvest Gold System

  • Customers start asking about bills

    Customers have not received bills, nor have they received any information about their previous billing disputes

  • Residents not notified about hearing

    AV Water has not notified residents to date about the hearing on Oct 12

  • AV Water requests extension on PRC hearing

    AV Water asks for extension on PRC hearing citing medical problems of a witness

  • Harvest Gold gets updates

    Updates left on cars, fences, and doors

  • NMPRC denies hearing extension moves it to San Juan County

    NMPRC denied AV Water's request to delay the hearing and voted unanimously to hold it in San Juan County. Added to the hearing is discussion on who may take over the company. A public meeting/ hearing is being held Oct 12 at 9:30am at the San Juan County Administration building, 10 S. Oliver Dr. Aztec, NM

  • AV Water fails to notify customers of hearing

    AV Water fails to notify customers of hearing via door hangers as ordered by the NMPRC

  • No weekly update for Harvest Gold

    NMED required AV Water to provide weekly updates by noon every Friday for Harvest Gold residents

  • NMPRC holds hearing

    The hearing started at 9:30am and ended after midnight 10/13/16

  • No weekly update for Harvest Gold

    NMED required AV Water to provide weekly updates by noon every Friday for Harvest Gold residents

  • AV water closed

    No reason given to customers. Bills are due, customers cannot pay.

  • Joe reading meters

    Joe was reading meters on CR 3777 some residents report meters were skipped.

  • Meters being read

    Residents report meters being read on CR 3961

  • AV Water still closed

    Residents report AV Water is still closed and they are unable to reach anybody by telephone.

  • NMPRC expidites hearing for Harvest Gold transfer and AV ordered to hang door hangers

    The NMPRC set a hearing on 11/09/2016 to transfer the Harvest Gold system to Blanco Mutual Domestic Water Users. AV was ordered to hang flyers in English and Spanish on every door in Harvest Gold. The application submitted by AV Water to the NMPRC stated that turbidity readings had been in compliance for 20 days.

  • No water in Harvest Gold.

    Customers report they have no water in Harvest Gold.

  • NMPRC hearing postponed

    Blanco water is concerned about compliance issues.

  • Blanco Water wants guarantees of funding

    Blanco Water states they want a guarantee that funding will be available to repair the Harvest Gold system before they take it over.

  • Meters being read

    Joe was reading meters on CR 3143. Customers report he is skipping meters.

  • AV Water closed. Customers go to City of Bloomfield counsel meeting

    Customers report AV Water is closed again. Customers ask City of Bloomfield for help in Harvest Gold. Bloomfield states they want to help, but don't have the money to connect to Harvest Gold.

  • Customers contact AV attorney about office closure.

    Customers send emails and text messages to AV attorney asking when the office will be open. Attorney states Alvanita is out sick and nobody else knows how to work in the office.

  • Meters being read

    Customers report meters are being read on CR 3320, CR 33200 and CR 3319

  • AV Water reopens

  • AV Water changes after hours emergency number

    There is a new after hours emergency number for AV Water. Customers were not notified

  • Meters being read. Customers call AV Water about not receiving bills

    Customers report meters being read on CR 3321. Customers question AV Water about not receiving bills since August. AV Water states the customers have a 0 balance and they are working on getting bills out.

  • Customers express concern about billing

    Most customers report no bills since August. AV Water states there ar glitches in the billing program.

  • Reply to text about billing from AV Water attorney

    Attorney states bills are being sent out. Customers that meters we not being consistently read will have their bills averaged. They will not get late fees and will be given options for payment plans.

  • NMPRC fines AV Water and orders them to supply bottled water to Harvest Gold

    The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has fined AV Water Co. and its owner $1 million and ordered the company to start delivering drinking water to residents in the Harvest Gold subdivision immediately.

  • Bottled water not delivered to Harvest Gold

    Customers report they have not received any bottled water after AV Water was ordered to deliver it.

  • Water tanks overflowing

    Customers report the water tanks in front of the AV office are overflowing.

  • STILL no drinkable water out at Harvest Gold.

    AV Water has not delivered water to Harvest Gold residents.

  • A few customers recieve bills

    A few customers receive bills, but most customers do not. Many of the bills are double charging, extremely high, or are incorrect.

  • NMPRC sends AV notice of violation

    NMED issued a notice of violation to AV Water for using the wrong filter media in the water treatment plant. The notice was issued after an inspection could not determine if the pumice used in the filters met certification standards.

  • Harvest Gold recieves bottled water

    AV Water contracts Cascade to deliver water to customers.

  • NMPRC meeting on AV Water

    AV Water did not comply with NMPRC orders and their attorney did not show to hearing.

  • NMPRC meeting on AV Water

    Next week, the New Mexico Finance Authority will consider the request for $55,000 to build a pipeline that would provide clean water to Harvest Gold residents. Water in Harvest Gold is not being treated.

  • Tanks overflow again. AV employee almost runs customer over.

    Customer went to investigate overflowing tanks at AV office and try to get someone to address them. Customer stated "Thomas tried to run me over barreling at around 60mph. I was standing right between his skid marks in the gravel. Thank God I saw him and hopped out of the way". Police were called.

  • NMPRC meeting on AV Water

    Mark Iuppenlatz is ordered to appear under oath on Jan. 4th to testify. Questions: Why did AV Water have a negative cash balance during Thanksgiving week? Since June, has AV Water ever failed to bill customers? Fred Whistle, the general manager of AV Water, told commissioners the company had received insurance proceeds for repairing and replacing the Harvest Gold water tank. The commission will ask Iuppenlatz how the proceeds were used and why the tank was not replaced or repaired.

  • NMPRC meeting canceled

  • San Juan County approves funding.

    Residents in the Harvest Gold subdivision who have been on a boil water advisory since June may soon see relief after the San Juan County Commission unanimously approved a request to use $3 million of capital outlay money intended for the Flora Vista wastewater system on other water infrastructure projects.

  • Flora Vista no longer helping AV Water

    Flora Vista Water Users is sad to say they are no longer contracted with AV Water they have not been paid and can no longer enable AV Water.

  • Anasazi reports pressure problems again

    Customers reported water pressure is running at 170 pounds in the Anasazi Estate subdivision.. No answers from AV

  • AV shuts off water to Anasazi for repairs

  • NMPRC meeting

    The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission today unanimously approved an order calling for an emergency hearing next week in Santa Fe regarding transferring operational power of the Harvest Gold water system, owned by AV Water Co., to the Blanco Mutual Domestic Water Users Association. It also unanimously approved an order for AV Water to preserve its assets, including financial assets

  • Anasazi still without water

    Customers report they still have no water after 5 days

  • After hours emergency phone disconnected

  • Customers report low water pressure

    Customers in the neighborhoods with roads numbered in the 3900's have low water pressure.

  • Meters being read

    Customers report meters being read on CR 5590

  • Blanco states they cannot take over Harvest Gold until issues are addressed

  • Cascade water discontinues service for Harvest Gold

    Cascade states AV water has not paid them and they can no longer provide bottled water

  • Meters being read

    Customers report meters being read on CR 5581

  • NMPRC hearing on AV Water

    Stonetown files for receivership. Blanco is not willing to take the system without a list of 15 requirements being met.

  • NMPRC hearing

    Blanco is not in the situation to take over Harvest Gold. Has declined to accept state funding. NMPRC tables decision on if Harvest Gold should be billed

  • Harvest Gold customers lose water

  • NMPRC hearing on AV Water

    Stonetown declines to take over Harvest Gold. NMPRC votes to ask Stonetown to add Harvest Gold to receivership. AV asks customers to call 911 for after hours water emergencies.

  • Meters being read

    Customers report meters being read on CR 3935

  • Harvest Gold still without water

    AV Water blames customers, states the pumps were sabotaged.

  • NMPRC meeting on AV Water

    Ernest Archuleta says that they want to look at the PRC themselves to create the interconnect to Harvest Gold. 2-3. Motion rejected but will be looked at next week once issues have been looked at.AV and stonetown have turned down offers for a company to come in.

  • NMPRC calls customers of Harvest Gold

    NMPRC conducts surveys to better help Harvest Gold

  • AV Water was paying rent to the owner

    While customers on the Morningstar and Harvest Gold water systems were on boil-water advisories, AV Water Co. owner Mark Iuppenlatz collected $3,000 a month in rent for the office building where the utility is located.

  • State to hold meeting about Harvest Gold forming a Mutual Domestic

    State legislators will meet with residents of the Harvest Gold subdivision Feb. 21st to discuss forming a mutual domestic water users association.

  • Customers start recieving bills

    Customers are being billed from Oct-Feb. Bills include the base charge plus commodity charge for 5 mo in the amount of $169.25. Many customers report large bills, past due bills, and payments made not being reflected. Previous bill disputes have not been addressed by AV Water.

  • NMPRC meeting

    Order prohibits money to be collected from harvest gold or bills to be given. Fine AV $50 per day per meter until boil advisory is lifted. PRC received motion from stonetown to enter into receivership for harvest gold.

  • After hours emergency number working again

  • Billing errors and past due bills being corrected

    Customers report billing errors are being corrected and past due amounts are being removed by AV Water.

  • Informative meeting for Harvest Gold

    NMED PRC and customers of Harvest Gold met to discuss options of forming a MDWCA set up by Legislatures

  • NMPRC Meeting

    Order approved to find that Mark Iuppenlatz and all entities shall be found jointly and severely responsible for the $1,000,000 fine. Fines approved in order to show cause case for 12 days of noncompliance totaling 1.2 million dollars which could be adjusted by the commission. Bring the total to 2.2 million dollars not including the $7000 per day that the Harvest Gold system does not have clean water.

  • Harvest Gold loses water again

    Harvest Gold residents woke up this morning to NO WATER. AV attorney previously tells Daily Times that Harvest Gold is Orphaned. Customers have been instructed on their bills to call 911 in water emergencies. Customers post on Facebook asking for help, which results in a message to AV attorney. AV attorney states Harvest Gold is not abandoned and someone is on their way to work on the water situation.