Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT

Española Municipal Schools (NM): 164 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area

16 ZIP codes · 15 water systems · 21,451 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in Española Municipal Schools: 166 violations at water systems mapped to the district's ZIP codes, not marked resolved in EPA records.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

N/A
Avg Safety Score (0 ZIP)
16
ZIP Codes
15
Water Systems
494
Violations (since 2021) (11 ZIP)
0.0092 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
Zone 1
Radon Risk (16 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Española Municipal Schools in New Mexico spans 16 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 0 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 11 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 21,451 across 6 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results 0.0021 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0092 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 11 with known status -

EPA Violation History

164 health-based violations recorded across 11 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. 11 of 11 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 166 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Public Notice Rule Reporting 99 No 11
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 94 No 10
Groundwater Rule Treatment Technique 87 Yes 9
Arsenic Inorganic 50 Yes 5
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 39 No 10
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Treatment Technique 36 Yes 9
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 25 No 11
Combined Uranium Radionuclides 21 Yes 1

Radon Risk

16 of 16 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
87532 Espanola N/A 141 47 0 mg/L No
87522 Chimayo N/A 48 19 0.0023 mg/L No
87511 Alcalde N/A 46 12 0.00056 mg/L No
87537 Hernandez N/A 46 12 0 mg/L No
87566 Ohkay Owingeh N/A 46 12 0.00056 mg/L No
87521 Chamisal N/A 43 13 0.0092 mg/L No
87567 Santa Cruz N/A 33 8 0.0023 mg/L No
87582 Velarde N/A 28 10 0.00056 mg/L No
87578 Truchas N/A 26 13 0.0023 mg/L No
87531 Embudo N/A 23 18 0.005 mg/L No
87549 Ojo Caliente N/A 14 0 0 mg/L No
87510 Abiquiu N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87523 Cordova N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87527 Dixon N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87530 El Rito N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87548 Medanales N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Española Municipal Schools schools?

EPA system-level records associated with Española Municipal Schools show 164 health-based violations across 11 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does Española Municipal Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → New Mexico → Española Municipal Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Española Municipal Schools (NM): 164 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/espa-ola-municipal-schools-nm/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Española Municipal Schools (NM): 164 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/espa-ola-municipal-schools-nm/}
}
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