Water System Report NM

Santa Fe County South Sector

EPA ID: NM3500826 · 6,775 people served · 12 ZIP codes

Water monitoring for Santa Fe County South Sector: clean, five years, 6,775 residents.

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

6,775
People Served
12
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 1 (2022) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Santa Fe County South Sector Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$78,571
Median Household Income
134,654
Service Area Population
28%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
47%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Santa Fe County South Sector serves a community with a median household income of $78,571 and an estimated 134,654 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Santa Fe County South Sector's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Santa Fe County, New Mexico rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 63% 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

Truth or Consequences
6,783 people
C 47 violations
0 violations
D 22 violations
Sandia Peak Utility
6,079 people
0 violations
Tucumcari Water System
6,064 people
B 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $800
Water Filtration $550
PFAS Treatment $42
Total Estimated Cost $2,592

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 $2,592 (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

Santa Fe County South Sector (EPA ID: NM3500826) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 6,775 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 12 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

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: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 10 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Santa Fe County South Sector (NM3500826) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Fe County South Sector water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Santa Fe County South Sector has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Santa Fe County South Sector serve?

Santa Fe County South Sector serves approximately 6,775 people across 12 ZIP codes in New Mexico.

Where does Santa Fe County South Sector get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
145

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:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,277
Unknown Material
1,627
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Reporting compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 2E.
Compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 4G.
Population served: 6,775
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?
Santa Fe County South Sector meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Santa Fe County South Sector serve?
Santa Fe County South Sector serves approximately 6,775 people with drinking water across 12 ZIP codes.
What is Santa Fe County South Sector's water source?
Santa Fe County South Sector draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Santa Fe County South Sector's service area?
The Santa Fe County South Sector service area has a median household income of $78,571. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Santa Fe County South Sector get its water?
Santa Fe County South Sector's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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