Ground-water resources of the Holloman Air Force Base well field area, 1967, New Mexico

Water consumption at Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB), N. Mex., reached an all time high in 1964 and 1965. Further increases in withdrawal without expansion of pumping facilities will hasten the chemical deterioration of the ground water pumped from the well fields. Saline water in the well-field area is present on the north and west sides of the potable-water area and in a thin shallow zone that overlies the potable-water sands in part of the potable-water area. The latter source is affecting quality of the water produced from most wells. The saturated thickness of material underlying the Boles well field ranges from about 3 ,500 feet in the western part of the field to about 1,200 feet in the eastern part of the field. In the Douglass and San Andres well fields, the saturated thickness ranges from 3,500 feet to about 300 feet. Expansion of the Boles and San Andres well fields to the east and southeast would move the center of pumping away from the highly saline water to the north and west. This would eliminate overpumping of the present wells that has resulted from the expanded facilities at Holloman Air Force Base. (Woodard-USGS)