Ruidoso Water System
EPA ID: NM3513114 ยท 15,947 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Ruidoso Water System (NM3513114): 1 past health-based violation, since resolved. 2 total violations across five years at Ruidoso Water System - every finding closed, utility compliant today, 15,947 served.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Ruidoso Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Ruidoso Water System serves a community with a median household income of $42,129 and an estimated 10,834 residents across its service area. Approximately 60% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 60% 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.
๐ Where Does Your Water Come From?
Ruidoso Water System'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Ruidoso Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter โComparable 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
Ruidoso Water System (EPA ID: NM3513114) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 15,947 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (80/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 2 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 2 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2021 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2021 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter โ
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0041 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 FilterFree 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 Ruidoso Water System (NM3513114) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ruidoso Water System water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Ruidoso Water System; its 2 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Ruidoso Water System serve?
Ruidoso Water System serves approximately 15,947 people across 2 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Ruidoso Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
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, 2023โ2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program 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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Ruidoso Water System (NM): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3513114/
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author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Ruidoso Water System (NM): 1 Health Violation}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3513114/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ
Contact your utility
Ruidoso Water System (EPA ID: NM3513114) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.