Espanola Water System
EPA ID: NM3501921 · 12,012 people served · 6 ZIP codes
Espanola Water System carries 6 open EPA violations that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 12,012 people fall within its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2022) to 20 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Espanola Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Espanola Water System serves a community with a median household income of $60,553 and an estimated 27,904 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 74% 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?
Espanola Water System'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.
About 3% of homes in Rio Arriba 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
Detected Contaminants
How Espanola Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 12 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in New Mexico
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Espanola Water System (EPA ID: NM3501921) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 12,012 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 12 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 2 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 1 | Yes |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 5 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 87511 — Alcalde
- 87532 — Espanola
- 87533 — Espanola
- 87537 — Hernandez
- 87566 — Ohkay Owingeh
- 87567 — Santa Cruz
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Espanola Water System (NM3501921) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Espanola Water System water safe to drink?
Espanola Water System has recorded 3 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Espanola Water System serve?
Espanola Water System serves approximately 12,012 people across 6 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Espanola Water System get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: ESPANOLA WATER SYSTEM Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from ESPANOLA WATER SYSTEM Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
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.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
reporting2024-10-01/2025-03-05
CCR ADEQUACY/AVAILABILITY/CONTENT violation
Violations record from ESPANOLA WATER SYSTEM Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Espanola Water System (EPA ID: NM3501921) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.