Historical Compliance Records NM 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

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

B ยท 80
Avg Safety Score
15,947
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0041 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Ruidoso Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$42,129
Median Household Income
10,834
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
60%
Pre-1986 Housing

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.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
31 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 56% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Ruidoso Water System compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

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.

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†’

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

B 2 violations
B 4 violations
Dona Ana Mdwca
16,987 people
21 violations
3 violations
Las Vegas (city Of)
14,530 people
61 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $2,150
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $250
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $2,950

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,950 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

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

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 2 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

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 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 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.

Samples collected
331
Detections
1
Latest sample
8/20/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 5.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 5.4 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

Is water from Ruidoso Water System safe to drink?
Ruidoso Water System earns a B safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Ruidoso Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Lead and Copper Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Ruidoso Water System serve?
Ruidoso Water System serves approximately 15,947 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Ruidoso Water System's water source?
Ruidoso Water System draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Ruidoso Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0041 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Ruidoso Water System's service area?
The Ruidoso Water System service area has a median household income of $42,129. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Ruidoso Water System get its water?
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. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Ruidoso Water System (NM): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3513114/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-nm3513114,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Ruidoso Water System (NM): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3513114/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Ruidoso Water System (EPA ID: NM3513114) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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