The TVCA have received a couple of updates from Bishop's Lodge regarding their wastewater treatment system. The letters are copied below in full, along with a copy of the Santa Fe County approval of a septic permit.
Letter 1:
SANTA FE, NM – 8-24-2024 - Bishop’s Lodge has announced that it is replacing its
previous wastewater treatment system, which was constructed in the mid-1970s, and
installing a new, more advanced treatment facility that will meet and exceed water
quality standards of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). This treated
water will be used for irrigation of the property, conserving water resources, reducing
the resort’s environmental footprint and supporting sustainable landscaping practices.
Today, Bishop’s Lodge announces it is pursuing the development of a leach field and
working with the NMED to renew and modify its existing groundwater discharge permit.
In the meantime, Bishop’s Lodge has requested the EPA suspend its permit application
to discharge into Little Tesuque Creek and is now seeking to discharge recycled water
to an on-site leach field. Once the NMED groundwater discharge permit renewal and
modification is approved, Bishop’s Lodge will rescind the permit application from the
EPA.
“We have been working for three years on a solution that will benefit the resort, the
neighborhood and the community by saving our precious water resources, which are so
important in our high desert climate,” said Chris Kaplan, representative of Bishop’s
Lodge.
"Bishop's Lodge is committed to being good neighbors, as well as respecting the
community’s concerns and comments. Over the past three years, we have worked
diligently to develop a solution that benefits the resort, the neighborhood, and the wider
community,” said Chris Kaplan, representative of Bishop’s Lodge. “Our decision to pivot
in strategy reflects our dedication to being conscientious partners to the Santa Fe
community.”
The new system will treat water for the hotel as well as Bishop’s Lodge Hills & Villas, the
82-home community above the hotel. The property is currently working to have the
system fully approved and operational by November 1st, prior to the first freeze.
“It became clear to our property during the permitting process that while the advanced
technology for the initial system produced recycled water of the highest standard that
was not deemed by regulators harmful to the environment, the local community had
become concerned about this method of discharge,” said Kaplan. “We have listened to
our neighbors, and Bishop’s Lodge has decided to invest additional funding to build the
leach field.”
Letter 2
September 9, 2024
Revised Wastewater Plan for Bishop’s Lodge
In the interest of transparency, Bishop’s Lodge provides the following information regarding the revised plans for wastewater:
• The new Bishop’s Lodge Wastewater Treatment Facility is an advanced, state-of-the-art plant designed to meet and exceed the water quality standards of the regulatory agencies. It treats all the wastewater from the resort, and from homes at the Bishop’s Lodge Hills & Villas Community. The package plant from Newterra uses a multiphase treatment process that includes dual phases of a membrane bioreactor followed by ultraviolet disinfection. The plant discharges Class A wastewater, the highest level of treated water recognized by regulators. The facility will be operated by a Level IV wastewater operator, which is the most advanced level of certification for such an operator.
• Bishop’s Lodge is constructing a new onsite leach field adjacent to an existing leach field. The new leach field is designed to accommodate current and future wastewater volumes, including planned future homes on vacant lots in the Villas and new buildings planned at the resort. The current maximum wastewater volume is approximately 14,760 gallons per day (gpd), and the new leach field will be permitted for 30,000 gpd.
• The treated effluent will be used for irrigation of landscaping at Bishop’s Lodge. When irrigation is not possible, the treated effluent will go to the leach field. Those times of year also coincide with the lowest volume of wastewater generation due to lower resort occupancy.
• Three groundwater monitoring wells are specifically located near the leach field and will be sampled quarterly, with results reported to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).
Bishop’s Lodge secured a Santa Fe County development permit this month to construct the new leach field. While the new leach field is being constructed, the NMED issued a temporary permit so the effluent can be reused for on-site landscape irrigation, and Bishop’s Lodge has applied for a renewal and modification of its current Ground Water Discharge Permit to allow for use of the new leach field and irrigation reuse. This process will include a comment period that will open shortly. We look forward to an efficient and expeditious path forward.
Santa Fe County permit approval
August 28, 2024
BL Santa Fe LLC
1297 Bishops Lodge Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87506
Your permit application, #24-543 has been APPROVED subject to the following conditions:
1. Development shall be in accordance with the plans submitted. Table 8-2: Planned
Development Districts. 8.10.2. Planned Development District (PD).
2. Must comply with all Santa Fe County Fire Prevention approval conditions & regulations.
Call 505-995-6523 for final inspection of emergency vehicle turnaround.
3. Permit for waste water plant 23-156.
4. Water source must be kept onsite for dust control.
5. A Final Inspection and an issuance of a Certificate Completion from Santa Fe County Code Enforcement is required. Once the work has been completed please contact Joseph Martinez 505-995-6531 to schedule your Final Inspection.
6. Any further development will require future permits from Santa Fe County.
Building & Development Supervisor
Santa Fe County Growth Management Department
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