Thoreau Water & Sanitation District
EPA ID: NM3508817 · 1,173 people served · 2 ZIP codes
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District shows 2 open EPA violations in current federal records for approximately 1,173 people.
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 6 (2024) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Thoreau Water & Sanitation District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Thoreau Water & Sanitation District serves a community with a median household income of $45,664 and an estimated 4,426 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.
Environmental Justice Note: 82% 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?
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District'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 14% of homes in McKinley 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 0700 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.
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
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District (EPA ID: NM3508817) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 1,173 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (79/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 15, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 23, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 28, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 27, 2023 | Lead and Copper 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 | 3 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 2 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
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 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 $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: 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District (NM3508817) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thoreau Water & Sanitation District water safe to drink?
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District serve?
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District serves approximately 1,173 people across 2 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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: THOREAU WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
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).
-
monitoring2022-10-01
CCR ADEQUACY/AVAILABILITY/CONTENT
-
monitoring2024-10-01
CCR ADEQUACY/AVAILABILITY/CONTENT
-
reporting2022-07-01
CCR REPORT
-
treatment technique2024-10-23
FAILURE ADDRESS DEFICIENCY (GWR)
-
monitoring2024-10-01
FOLLOW-UP OR ROUTINE TAP M/R (LCR)
Violations record from THOREAU WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT 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.
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
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District (EPA ID: NM3508817) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.