Health Violations Found NM 5 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District

EPA ID: NM3531623 · 700 people served · 4 ZIP codes

While corrective steps may be in progress, Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District currently shows 10 EPA violations unresolved — serving a population of approximately 700.

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

D · 47
Avg Safety Score
700
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
25
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
7
Contaminants Flagged
$185K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 5 (2023) to 10 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$58,108
Median Household Income
5,008
Service Area Population
41%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
54%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District serves a community with a median household income of $58,108 and an estimated 5,008 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: 41% 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

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District'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
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Sandoval 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 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

49 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
21 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 70% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 4 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report 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

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

Talpa Mdwca
700 people
0 violations
Regina Mdwca
705 people
B 7 violations
B 3 violations
0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $1,350

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 $9,245

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$12,125
10 years
$24,250
20 years
$48,500

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,350 (one-time) vs. $24,250 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

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District (EPA ID: NM3531623) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 700 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (47/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

5 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 10 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 27, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Health-based Resolved
September 28, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 6 Yes
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 4 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 3 Yes
Total Coliform Microbiological 2 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 2 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
87041 0.0012 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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.

  • 87041 — Pena Blanca
  • 87052 — Santo Domingo Pueblo
  • 87072 — Cochiti Pueblo
  • 87083 — Cochiti Lake

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District (NM3531623) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District water safe to drink?

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District has recorded 5 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 Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District serve?

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District serves approximately 700 people across 4 ZIP codes in New Mexico.

Where does Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District 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: PEÑA BLANCA WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT 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:

2
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
11
Unknown Material
145
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2025-07-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Reporting compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 2E.
Compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 4G.
Population served: 700
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
    2024-10-01
    FOLLOW-UP OR ROUTINE TAP M/R (LCR)
  • monitoring
    2023-10-27/2024-06-20
    LEVEL 1 ASSESS, TC POS RT NO RPT (RTCR)

Violations record from PEÑA BLANCA WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT 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 Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District safe to drink?
Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District has a D safety grade based on 25 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 2 DBP Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. 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 Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District serve?
Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District serves approximately 700 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District's water source?
Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District's service area?
The Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District service area has a median household income of $58,108. EPA EJScreen data classifies 41% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District get its water?
Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District'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

Pena Blanca Water & Sanitation District (EPA ID: NM3531623) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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