Water System Report NM

Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District

EPA ID: NM3558514 ยท 2,870 people served ยท 4 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District (NM3558514): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Across every monitored period in the past five years, Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District reported no EPA violations for its service population of 2,870.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 75
Avg Safety Score
2,870
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0061 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$51,008
Median Household Income
14,129
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District serves a community with a median household income of $51,008 and an estimated 14,129 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 60% 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

Alto Lakes Water and 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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 62% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.012 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Mexico

Moriarty Water System
2,825 people
10 violations
0 violations
5 violations
Garfield Mdwca
2,504 people
2 violations
43 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,675
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $150
PFAS Treatment $125
Total Estimated Cost $2,350

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,350 (one-time) vs. $330 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

Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District (EPA ID: NM3558514) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 2,870 people from groundwater sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (75/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 4 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0061 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 Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District (NM3558514) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District serve?

Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District serves approximately 2,870 people across 4 ZIP codes in New Mexico.

Where does Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District 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
58

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†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District safe to drink?
Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District serve?
Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District serves approximately 2,870 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District's water source?
Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0061 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District's service area?
The Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District service area has a median household income of $51,008. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District get its water?
Alto Lakes Water and 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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District Water Report, NM. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3558514/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-nm3558514,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District Water Report, NM}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nm3558514/}
}
Home Water Systems New Mexico Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District

Get safety alerts for Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District, New Mexico

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.