Health Violations Found NM 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Ponderosa Mdwca

EPA ID: NM3533223 · 567 people served · 1 ZIP code

Since the flagged events, Ponderosa Mdwca resolved all 12 violations — compliant today, 567 residents served.

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

B · 82
Avg Safety Score
567
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
12
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Ponderosa Mdwca Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$49,583
Median Household Income
252
Service Area Population
41%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
52%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Ponderosa Mdwca serves a community with a median household income of $49,583 and an estimated 252 residents across its service area. Approximately 52% 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?

Surface Water

Ponderosa Mdwca's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

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. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Infrastructure Risk

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
28 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 60% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Ponderosa Mdwca compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Lead and Copper Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

E. coli at 4 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

E. coli was detected in this water system. UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

0 violations
Chamisal Mdwca
550 people
C 1 violation
Penasco Mdwca
549 people
D 11 violations
Velarde Mdwca
543 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $700

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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $700 (one-time) vs. $10,000 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

Ponderosa Mdwca (EPA ID: NM3533223) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 567 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 87044 in Ponderosa.

Average Home Safety Score: B (82/100)

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. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
March 19, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring 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 5 No
E. coli Microbiological 4 Yes
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No

Health Risk Details

E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))

Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.

Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
87044 0.001 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

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Ponderosa Mdwca (NM3533223) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ponderosa Mdwca water safe to drink?

Ponderosa Mdwca 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 Ponderosa Mdwca serve?

Ponderosa Mdwca serves approximately 567 people across 1 ZIP code in New Mexico.

Where does Ponderosa Mdwca get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: PONDEROSA MDWCA Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from PONDEROSA MDWCA Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
206
Unknown Material
0
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: 567
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Ponderosa Mdwca safe to drink?
Ponderosa Mdwca earns a B safety grade with 12 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Ponderosa Mdwca's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead and Copper Rule, E. coli, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report 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 Ponderosa Mdwca serve?
Ponderosa Mdwca serves approximately 567 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Ponderosa Mdwca's water source?
Ponderosa Mdwca draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Ponderosa Mdwca's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Ponderosa Mdwca's service area?
The Ponderosa Mdwca service area has a median household income of $49,583. EPA EJScreen data classifies 41% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Ponderosa Mdwca get its water?
Ponderosa Mdwca's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. 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

Ponderosa Mdwca (EPA ID: NM3533223) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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