Truth or Consequences
EPA ID: NM3514327 · 6,783 people served · 4 ZIP codes
Federal compliance records for Truth or Consequences list 23 open violations that have not yet been resolved — the utility serves approximately 6,783 people, and each outstanding finding remains logged and active in the EPA enforcement database.
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 1 (2021) to 8 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Truth or Consequences Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Truth or Consequences serves a community with a median household income of $39,792 and an estimated 7,790 residents across its service area. Approximately 61% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 100% 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?
Truth or Consequences'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 1% of homes in Sierra County, New Mexico rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 90th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Truth or Consequences compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead and Copper Rule at 18 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Nickel at 14 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of 4 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L). Tooth & bone damage at high levels. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES (EPA ID: NM3514327) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 6,783 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (57/100)
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 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Unresolved |
| September 29, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| June 28, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 17, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 24, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 18, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| November 9, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| August 9, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 25, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 9, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Nickel | Health-based | Unresolved |
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 | 18 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 14 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 7 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 1 | Yes |
Health Risk Details
Fluoride (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L))
Tooth & bone damage at high levels At-risk groups: children under 8 during tooth development, elderly with compromised bone density, people with kidney disease.
Removal methods: reverse osmosis, activated alumina, distillation. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87901 | 0.00086 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
Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Truth or Consequences (NM3514327) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Truth or Consequences water safe to drink?
Truth or Consequences has recorded 15 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 Truth or Consequences serve?
Truth or Consequences serves approximately 6,783 people across 4 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Truth or Consequences 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: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 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 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 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.
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.
- #50 / 100 Most Unresolved Health Violations (U.S.)
- #77 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #22 / 43 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (New Mexico)
- #5 / 30 Highest Exposure Burden (New Mexico)
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
Truth or Consequences (EPA ID: NM3514327) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.