Current Health-Based Noncompliance NM 24 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Belen Water System

EPA ID: NM3524932 ยท 10,830 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Belen Water System (NM3524932): 11 unresolved EPA violations on record. Compliance tracking for Belen Water System shows 11 pending violations logged in the EPA system - the supplier delivers water to approximately 10,830 residents while those findings remain open.

Data: EPA SDWIS

10,830
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
89
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
10
Contaminants Flagged
$184K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$51,537
Median Household Income
21,375
Service Area Population
67%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
54%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Belen Water System serves a community with a median household income of $51,537 and an estimated 21,375 residents across its service area. Approximately 54% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 67% 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Belen 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
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

41 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
29 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 59% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Belen Water System compares to EPA limits

Barium 35 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 2 mg/L
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Lead and Copper Rule at 18 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Barium at 35 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 2 mg/L.

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.

Contaminant 0700 at 13 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.

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

Bernalillo Water System
10,948 people
C 6 violations
5 violations
0 violations
C 3 violations
Espanola Water System
12,012 people
3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $9,185

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$12,095
10 years
$24,190
20 years
$48,380

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,200 (one-time) vs. $24,190 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

Belen Water System (EPA ID: NM3524932) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 10,830 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 87002 in Belen.

Violation History

8 current health-based noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 78 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 11 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
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
December 21, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unaddressed (current)
November 27, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
October 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
February 21, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2025 Barium Health-based Resolved
December 20, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
November 23, 2024 Total Coliform Non-health-based Resolved
November 8, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Non-health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2024 Barium Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2024 Barium Health-based Resolved
July 1, 2024 Barium Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Barium Inorganic 35 Yes
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 18 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 13 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 11 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 5 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 2 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 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 Belen Water System (NM3524932) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Belen Water System water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 8 current health-based noncompliance records for Belen Water System. Review the utility's current notices and EPA record. This system-level compliance history cannot determine conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Belen Water System serve?

Belen Water System serves approximately 10,830 people across 1 ZIP code in New Mexico.

Where does Belen 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.

Samples collected
174

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

What contaminants are in Belen Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead and Copper Rule, Barium, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 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 Belen Water System serve?
Belen Water System serves approximately 10,830 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Belen Water System's water source?
Belen Water System draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Belen Water System's service area?
The Belen Water System service area has a median household income of $51,537. EPA EJScreen data classifies 67% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Belen Water System get its water?
Belen 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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Belen Water System (NM): 24 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3524932/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-nm3524932,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Belen Water System (NM): 24 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3524932/}
}

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

Belen Water System (EPA ID: NM3524932) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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