Health Violations Found NM 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Santa Clara Water System

EPA ID: NM3522209 · 1,682 people served · 3 ZIP codes

While corrective steps may be in progress, Santa Clara Water System currently shows 1 EPA violation unresolved — serving a population of approximately 1,682.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
1,682
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
3
Contaminants Flagged
$146K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2022) to 1 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$46,094
Median Household Income
3,860
Service Area Population
75%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Santa Clara Water System serves a community with a median household income of $46,094 and an estimated 3,860 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 75% 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?

Groundwater

Santa Clara 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
0th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 3% of homes in Grant 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

52 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 76% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Santa Clara Water System compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Lead and Copper Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP 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

C 2 violations
0 violations
Carrizozo Water System
1,758 people
B 23 violations
Cottonwood Water Mdwca
1,781 people
0 violations
Hurley, Town of
1,577 people
C 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $1,300

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.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,300 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Santa Clara Water System (EPA ID: NM3522209) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 1,682 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 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

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 27, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring 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 2 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
88041 0.012 mg/L No N/A
88026 0.0054 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 Filter

Free 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Santa Clara Water System (NM3522209) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Clara Water System water safe to drink?

Santa Clara Water System has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Santa Clara Water System serve?

Santa Clara Water System serves approximately 1,682 people across 3 ZIP codes in New Mexico.

Where does Santa Clara Water System 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
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: SANTA CLARA 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.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
363
Unknown Material
399
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,682
Reported to New Mexico

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

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).

  • monitoring
    2022-10-01/2024-12-31
    FOLLOW-UP OR ROUTINE TAP M/R (LCR)

Violations record from SANTA CLARA 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

Is water from Santa Clara Water System safe to drink?
Santa Clara Water System earns a B safety grade with 4 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Santa Clara Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead and Copper Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 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 Santa Clara Water System serve?
Santa Clara Water System serves approximately 1,682 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Santa Clara Water System's water source?
Santa Clara Water System draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Santa Clara Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Santa Clara Water System's service area?
The Santa Clara Water System service area has a median household income of $46,094. EPA EJScreen data classifies 75% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Santa Clara Water System get its water?
Santa Clara 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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Santa Clara Water System (EPA ID: NM3522209) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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