Carlsbad Municipal Water System
EPA ID: NM3520608 · 33,626 people served · 1 ZIP code
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Carlsbad Municipal Water System (NM3520608): 2 EPA violations in the last five years. Carlsbad Municipal Water System carries 2 resolved violations in the five-year EPA record - each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 33,626 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Carlsbad Municipal Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Carlsbad Municipal Water System serves a community with a median household income of $79,668 and an estimated 40,151 residents across its service area. Approximately 65% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 50% 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?
Carlsbad Municipal Water System'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Carlsbad Municipal Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 0700 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
Carlsbad Municipal Water System (EPA ID: NM3520608) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 33,626 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 88220 in Carlsbad.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 12, 2022 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | 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 | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00073 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 $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.
- 88220 - Carlsbad
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Carlsbad Municipal Water System (NM3520608) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlsbad Municipal Water System water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Carlsbad Municipal 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 Carlsbad Municipal Water System serve?
Carlsbad Municipal Water System serves approximately 33,626 people across 1 ZIP code in New Mexico.
Where does Carlsbad Municipal Water System get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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 →
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.). Carlsbad Municipal Water System (NM): 2 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3520608/
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3520608/}
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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 →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Carlsbad Municipal Water System (EPA ID: NM3520608) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.