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LAS CRUCES - Some Las Crucens have become involved in helping to restore water service to the village of Ruidoso, which town officials said could be achieved as early as noon today.

New Mexico National Guard Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera said Monday that some of the additional National Guard troops sent Sunday to the village by Gov. Susana Martinez are from Las Cruces. The majority of the soldiers ordered to Ruidoso are with the 1st Division, 200th Infantry Battalion, based in Las Cruces.

"At least 30 of those soldiers are from Las Cruces," said Herrera, a Guard spokesman.

Soldiers with the 613th Forward Support Co., C Company of 1-200th, and the battalion's Headquarters Co. are in Ruidoso today to help restore water to as many as 2,200 homes or businesses of water. Ruidoso has experienced massive water main problems that began Feb. 7.

New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials in Ruidoso said Monday that significant progress has been made to restore water service, and they are encouraged that water service to the entire village could soon be completely restored.

"The soldiers have made very good progress," Herrera said. "Right now they're about eight hours ahead of schedule to get the

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project completed."

Village Manager Debi Lee said that timeframe had increased to 24 hours ahead of schedule by late Monday because of the help from the Guard.

"Right now, we've estimated that we've been able to restore service to about 60 percent," Lee said. "The help of the National Guard is a big reason we've been able to reach that point. Our initial goal was to be able to begin turning water on by (today), but it looks hopeful now that we could reach 80 to 90 percent, and take care of the rest on Wednesday or Thursday."

Herrera said the soldiers were charged with going door to door and turning off all water valves. Doing that has allowed Ruidoso's aquifer to recharge. The soldiers are then sent back to homes and businesses to turn on water valves, and that has helped identify leaking water lines so repairs can be made.

Because an emergency has been declared due to low water levels in the village, the soldiers have had the authority to enter private residences - particularly unoccupied vacation residences - to turn off and on water valves.

Herrera said the soldiers' duties are similar to those they were given last week, when they assisted in restoring natural gas service to northern New Mexico homes and businesses that experienced outages because of the cold weather.

State Environment Department officials said water in Ruidoso's system is not contaminated. However, an advisory to residents to boil water is still in effect. Bottled water for drinking is available at Ruidoso's main Fire Station, 541 Sudderth.

Cloudcroft and Timberon have also suffered water outages in municipal pipelines that were impacted by the blast of arctic air. Water service has been restored in Cloudcroft and all but two residents in Timberon have water service.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452

Guard members assist during water shortage

• Portions of the village of Ruidoso remained without water Monday.

• Sunday, 100 other New Mexico National Guard members were sent there to help.

• Of those soldiers, 45 are with the 1st Division, 200th Infantry Battalion of the Guard, based in Las Cruces.

• Of the 45 Guard members, at least 30 are from Las Cruces.

• Altogether, State National Guard officials estimate there are 105 soldiers in Ruidoso.