Water System Report NM

La Union Mds & Water Authority

EPA ID: NM3500707 · 1,272 people served · 1 ZIP code

Zero EPA violations over five years — La Union Mds & Water Authority has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 1,272.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

1,272
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$151K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2023) to 11 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for La Union Mds & Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$49,345
Median Household Income
16,102
Service Area Population
66%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
43%
Pre-1986 Housing

The La Union Mds & Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $49,345 and an estimated 16,102 residents across its service area. Approximately 43% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 66% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

La Union Mds & Water Authority's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Doña Ana County, New Mexico rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

45 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 64% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.012 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

Twin Forks Mdwca
1,274 people
0 violations
Cimarron Water System
1,260 people
0 violations
Hagerman Water System
1,292 people
B 24 violations
Magdalena Village of
1,321 people
B 10 violations
Melrose Water System
1,332 people
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,700

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,700 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

La Union Mds & Water Authority (EPA ID: NM3500707) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 1,272 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 88021 in Anthony.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

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

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by NM or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for La Union Mds & Water Authority (NM3500707) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is La Union Mds & Water Authority water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, La Union Mds & Water Authority has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does La Union Mds & Water Authority serve?

La Union Mds & Water Authority serves approximately 1,272 people across 1 ZIP code in New Mexico.

Where does La Union Mds & Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

1
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
9
Unknown Material
521
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2012-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,177
Reported to New Mexico

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
La Union Mds & Water Authority meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does La Union Mds & Water Authority serve?
La Union Mds & Water Authority serves approximately 1,272 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is La Union Mds & Water Authority's water source?
La Union Mds & Water Authority draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of La Union Mds & Water Authority's service area?
The La Union Mds & Water Authority service area has a median household income of $49,345. EPA EJScreen data classifies 66% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does La Union Mds & Water Authority get its water?
La Union Mds & Water Authority's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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