Water System Report NM

Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley

EPA ID: NM3502407 ยท 11,542 people served ยท 10 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley (NM3502407): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley carries zero EPA violations in five years - a spotless record for a utility serving 11,542 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

11,542
People Served
10
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$155K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$50,601
Median Household Income
156,381
Service Area Population
66%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley serves a community with a median household income of $50,601 and an estimated 156,381 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley'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

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

38 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 54% 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. 5 detections 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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

Espanola Water System
12,012 people
3 violations
Socorro Water System
12,026 people
B 1 violation
Bernalillo Water System
10,948 people
C 6 violations
Belen Water System
10,830 people
89 violations
5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $960
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $250
Water Filtration $240
Total Estimated Cost $1,850

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 $1,850 (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

Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley (EPA ID: NM3502407) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 11,542 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 10 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.001 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley (NM3502407) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley serve?

Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley serves approximately 11,542 people across 10 ZIP codes in New Mexico.

Where does Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
464
Detections
1
Latest sample
8/19/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 30.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 30.5 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

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

Should I use a water filter?
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley serve?
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley serves approximately 11,542 people with drinking water across 10 ZIP codes.
What is Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley's water source?
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley's service area?
The Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley service area has a median household income of $50,601. EPA EJScreen data classifies 66% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley get its water?
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley, NM: Serves 12K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3502407/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-nm3502407,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley, NM: Serves 12K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3502407/}
}
Home Water Systems New Mexico Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley

Get safety alerts for Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley, New Mexico

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.