Water Quality: Placitas, NM
10 water systems • 3,460 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Placitas is served by 10 public water systems with a combined service population of 3,460 people, and has 269 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 133 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Placitas's violation count is 59% above the national average for New Mexico. Contaminants associated with violations include Barium, Chlorine Dioxide, E. coli, Gross Alpha, Stage 2 DBP.
Contaminants Found
Increases blood pressure and causes cardiovascular effects with long-term exposure.
Common source: Natural rock deposits, oil drilling operations, coal power plant waste
EPA limit: 2 mg/L
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
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)
Alpha-emitting radioactive particles increase cancer risk, particularly from bone and other internal cancers.
Common source: Natural uranium and radium in geological formations
EPA limit: 15 pCi/L (excluding radon and uranium)
Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids that increase cancer risk and may cause adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Chlorine disinfection reacting with natural organic matter in source water
EPA limit: TTHM: 0.080 mg/L; HAA5: 0.060 mg/L
Water Systems Serving Placitas
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH RANCHOS DE PLACITAS W&SD | NM3546223 | Groundwater | 659 | 43 |
| LA MESA WATER COOP | NM3500123 | Groundwater | 650 | 4 |
| LAS ACEQUIAS DE PLACITAS | NM3509323 | Groundwater | 596 | 22 |
| ANASAZI TRAILS WATER CO-OP | NM3501523 | Groundwater | 400 | 31 |
| RANCHOS DE PLACITAS SANITATION DISTRICT | NM3509423 | Groundwater | 374 | 18 |
| OVERLOOK WATER CO-OP INC | NM3500323 | Groundwater | 209 | 8 |
| DESERT SKY MOUNTAIN WATER COOPERATIVE | NM3501223 | Groundwater | 187 | 72 |
| CEDAR CREEK WATER COOPERATIVE INC | NM3500423 | Groundwater | 141 | 14 |
| VISTA DE ORO DE PLACITAS WATER USERS COO | NM3500623 | Groundwater | 138 | 2 |
| PLACITAS WEST WATER CO-OP | NM3543623 | Groundwater | 106 | 55 |
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.