Water Quality: Elephant Butte, NM
10 water systems • 25,380 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Elephant Butte is served by 10 public water systems with a combined service population of 25,380 people, and has 302 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 39 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Elephant Butte's violation count is 79% above the national average for New Mexico. Contaminants associated with violations include Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
Contaminants Found
Can cause anemia in infants and young children; may cause nervous system effects at high levels.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant used to control taste, odor, and microorganisms
EPA limit: 0.8 mg/L
Broad category of chemicals formed during disinfection, associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive effects.
Common source: Reaction of disinfectants (chlorine, ozone, chloramines) with organic matter
Causes gastrointestinal illness; certain strains (e.g., O157:H7) can cause severe kidney failure and death.
Common source: Fecal contamination from humans or animals entering the water supply
EPA limit: Zero (no E. coli permitted in drinking water)
Total trihalomethanes are linked to increased risk of bladder cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter in water
EPA limit: 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb)
Haloacetic acids are associated with increased cancer risk and potential reproductive and developmental effects.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with organic matter in treated water
EPA limit: 0.060 mg/L (60 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Elephant Butte
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MORNINGSTAR WATER SYSTEM | NM3510524 | Surface Water | 5,694 | 165 |
| RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM | NM3524832 | Groundwater | 5,374 | 5 |
| RIO DEL ORO WATER SYSTEM | NM3580232 | Groundwater | 4,387 | 10 |
| MEADOW LAKE WATER SYSTEM | NM3532032 | Groundwater | 2,760 | 1 |
| ELEPHANT BUTTE WATER SYSTEM | NM3530827 | Groundwater | 2,286 | 6 |
| MONTEREY WATER COMPANY INC. | NM3509032 | Groundwater | 1,472 | 20 |
| ELEPHANT BUTTE, CITY OF | NM3573627 | Groundwater | 1,350 | 32 |
| SANDIA KNOLLS WATER SYSTEM | NM3511001 | Groundwater | 1,098 | 16 |
| INDIAN HILLS WATER SYSTEM | NM3546930 | Groundwater | 715 | 23 |
| HI MESA WATER SYSTEM | NM3500232 | Groundwater | 244 | 24 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in New Mexico
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.