Elephant Butte Water System
EPA ID: NM3530827 · 2,286 people served · 1 ZIP code
EPA data: Elephant Butte Water System — zero violations, five years, 2,286 served.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Elephant Butte Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Elephant Butte Water System serves a community with a median household income of $44,891 and an estimated 1,848 residents across its service area.
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?
Elephant Butte 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.
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
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
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
Elephant Butte Water System (EPA ID: NM3530827) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 2,286 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 87935 in Elephant Butte.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.
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
- 87935 — Elephant Butte
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Elephant Butte Water System (NM3530827) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elephant Butte Water System water safe to drink?
Based on EPA records, Elephant Butte Water System has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.
How many people does Elephant Butte Water System serve?
Elephant Butte Water System serves approximately 2,286 people across 1 ZIP code in New Mexico.
Where does Elephant Butte Water System get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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.