Elephant Butte District 2021 Water Quality Report

Welcome

Strawberries being washedAt New Mexico Water, our goal is to deliver safe, high-quality drinking water, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. As part of that effort, we produce this annual water quality report, which includes information about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to state and federal standards. Most importantly, it confirms that in 2021, our water met or surpassed all standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Mexico Environment Department to protect public health.

If you would like more information or have questions about your water service, please contact us:

Address: 608 Butte Boulevard
Elephant Butte, NM 87935
Phone: (575) 744-5974
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
(closed noon–1 p.m.)

Your Water System

Family drinking waterThe water supply for the Elephant Butte water system is pumped from three wells that are drilled into the Rio Grande Aquifer. The water pumped from the aquifer is disinfected and stored in two steel reservoirs that provide 400,000 gallons of storage.

Source Water Assessment and Protection

The Elephant Butte water system is well maintained and operated, and sources of drinking water are generally protected from potential contamination by well construction, hydrogeology, and system operations and management. However, the susceptibility of the system is classified as “high,” due to the potential contamination from septic systems and nearby roadways. No associated contaminants have been detected from these potential sources. Please contact New Mexico Water to discuss the findings for the Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan (SWAPP) report.

For Details on the Data in This Report

New Mexico Water Service
Attn: Martin Torrez
401 Horner Street
Rio Communities, NM 87002
(505) 744-5974
[email protected]

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.

The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Information Regarding Arsenic

While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

Possible Contaminants

Surface of clean waterIn your system, results from our lead monitoring program, conducted in accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule, were non-detectable for the presence of lead.

As the issue of lead in water continues to be top of mind for many Americans, New Mexico Water wants to assure you about the quality of your water.

None of these conditions exist at New Mexico Water. We have worked proactively to eliminate lead-bearing materials from our water systems, and we are compliant with health and safety codes mandating the installation of lead-free materials in public water systems. We test our water sources to ensure that the water we deliver to customers' meters meets water quality standards and is not corrosive toward plumbing materials. The water we deliver may meet lead standards, but what about your home plumbing? Because lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing, the Lead and Copper Rule is a critical part of our water quality monitoring program.

The Lead and Copper Rule requires us to test water inside a representative number of homes with plumbing most likely to contain lead and/or lead solder (those built before 1986). This test, with other water quality testing, tells us if the water is corrosive enough to cause lead from home plumbing to leach into the water. If the “Action Level” for lead is exceeded, we work with our customers to investigate the issue and, if necessary, implement corrosion control before the lead levels create a health issue.

Elevated levels of lead, if present, can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and children. If your home's plumbing contains lead piping or pipe fittings, lead solder, or brass fixtures that may contain lead, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested by a certified lab. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

About Lead

Drinking fountainNew Mexico Water tests your water for more than 140 regulated contaminants and dozens of unregulated contaminants. This table lists only primary contaminants that were detected.

This table lists all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the calendar year of this report (unless otherwise noted). The EPA and state of New Mexico require us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because concentrations of these contaminants do not change rapidly.

Do I Need to Take Special Precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised people, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, and those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders; some elderly people; and infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Key Definitions

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other required action by the water provider.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is significant evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Treatment technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Our testing equipment is so sensitive, it can detect constituents as small as 1 part per trillion. That is equivalent to 1 inch over 15 million miles.

Table Introduction

Table Key
NA Not applicable
pCi/L picoCuries per liter (measure of radioactivity)
ppb parts per billion (micrograms per liter)
ppm parts per million (milligrams per liter)
µg/L Number of micrograms of substance in one liter of water

2021 Water Quality

Disinfectants
& Disinfectant Byproducts
MCLG or MRDLG MCL, TT, or MRDL Your Water Range Year Tested Unit Violation Typical Source
Low High
Chlorine (as CL2) 4 4 0.55 0.31 1.04 2021 ppm No Water additive used to control microbes
TTHMs (total trihalomethanes) NA 80 20 14.4 20 2021 ppb No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) NA 60 2.23 2 2.23 2021 ppb No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Inorganic Contaminants MCLG or MRDLG MCL, TT, or MRDL Your Water Range Year Tested Unit Violation Typical Source
Low High
Nitrate (measured as nitrogen) 10 10 0 NA 0 2021 ppm No Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride 4 4 2.2 NA 2.2 2021 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Arsenic 0 10 10 NA 10 2021 ppb No Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes
Barium 2 2 0.21 NA 0.21 2021 ppm No Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries, erosion of natural deposits
Sodium NA NA 110 NA 110 2021 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits; leaching
Radioactive Contaminants MCLG or MRDLG MCL, TT, or MRDL Your Water Range Year Tested Unit Violation Typical Source
Low High
Gross alpha
including radon and uranium
0 15 4.8 4.3 4.8 2019 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits of certain minerals that are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation
Gross alpha
excluding radon and uranium
0 15 2.1 1.6 2.1 2019 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits of certain minerals that are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation
Combined radium 226/228 0 5 0.32 0.28 0.32 2019 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits
Gross beta 0 50 6.2 3.8 6.2 2019 pCi/L No Decay of natural and manmade deposits. The EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.
Uranium 0 30 4 4 4 2019 µg/L No Erosion of natural deposits
Inorganic Contaminants MCLG AL Your Water Samples >AL Year Tested Unit Exceeds AL Typical Source
Lead—action level at consumer taps 0 15 0 0 2019 ppb No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits
Copper—action level at consumer taps 1.3 1.3 0.13 0 2019 ppm No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Important Information About Your Drinking Water

Elevated Fluoride Levels Detected

Fluoride, one of the most plentiful elements on earth, can occur naturally in water supplies. At optimum levels, fluoride in water can help prevent tooth decay in children. However, for children under age nine, consuming water with fluoride at levels of more than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) over a period of time can cause a discoloration of permanent teeth, known as dental fluorosis. The underground drinking water supply used to serve Elephant Butte water customers has been found to naturally contain fluoride at a concentration of 2.2 mg/L.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water standard (called the Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL) for fluoride is 4 mg/L, as drinking water containing more than 4 mg/L of fluoride can increase the risk of bone disease. Please note that your drinking water does not exceed the MCL for fluoride. We notify you when the fluoride level has risen above 2 mg/L solely because of the cosmetic dental issue affecting children under age nine.

Mild forms of dental fluorosis are characterized by opaque white areas on the tooth's surface. In its moderate and severe forms, dental fluorosis may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This cosmetic issue occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under age nine should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use of fluoride supplements by young children. Older children and adults are not susceptible to dental fluorosis.

For more information, please contact New Mexico Water Service's Customer Service Manager Staci Avendano at (575) 744-5974 ext. 72230. Some home water treatment units are available to remove fluoride from drinking water; to learn more about available home water treatment units, call NSF International's Consumer Affairs Specialist at (800) 673-8010.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Thank You

Parent and children brushing teethThanks for taking the time to learn more about your water quality! Even more information awaits you at www.newmexicowater.com.

Visit our web site to get information about your account, water rates, and water system. And, as always, you can reach us by phone or at our Customer Center.