Tularosa Water System
EPA ID: NM3514019 · 3,458 people served · 2 ZIP codes
Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Tularosa Water System shows 44 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 3,458.
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 (2023) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Tularosa Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Tularosa Water System serves a community with a median household income of $47,083 and an estimated 4,220 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 56% 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?
Tularosa 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.
About 1% of homes in Otero 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 Tularosa Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 4 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 40 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
E. coli at 27 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →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
TULAROSA WATER SYSTEM (EPA ID: NM3514019) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 3,458 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)
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 | Resolved |
| February 10, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| November 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 13, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 23, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 24, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 10, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| December 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| August 19, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 15, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 40 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 27 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 9 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 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 →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88352 | 0.0019 mg/L | No | N/A |
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
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Tularosa Water System (NM3514019) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tularosa Water System water safe to drink?
Tularosa Water System has recorded 4 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 Tularosa Water System serve?
Tularosa Water System serves approximately 3,458 people across 2 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Tularosa Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Tularosa 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 chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Tularosa 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).
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2019-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2020-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2021-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2022-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2023-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR adequacy/availability/content2024-10-01
CCR Adequacy/Availability/Content violation
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CCR report2024-07-01
CCR Report violation
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Ground Water Rule violation2018-04-02
Failure to address deficiency (GWR)
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Interim Enhanced SWTR violation2019-07-24
Failure to address deficiency (IESWTR)
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Interim Enhanced SWTR violation2022-08-23
Failure to address deficiency (IESWTR)
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Total Trihalomethanes MCL, LRAA · Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)2024-01-01
MCL violation for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) LRAA
Violations record from Tularosa 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.
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
Tularosa Water System (EPA ID: NM3514019) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.