Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Las Cruces?
Yes, Las Cruces's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Las Cruces has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Las Cruces's water utility, Las Cruces Municipal Water System, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Las Cruces was resolved on Dec. 31, 2013. This assessment is based on the Las Cruces Municipal Water System water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Las Cruces Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Las Cruces tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Las Cruces's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Las Cruces Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Las Cruces Municipal Water System for Las Cruces in New Mexico. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
For the compliance period beginning July 16, 2017, Las Cruces had 3 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Treatment Technique Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Failure To Address Deficiency which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Groundwater Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: Groundwater Rule, Groundwater Rule, Groundwater Rule.
From March 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013, Las Cruces had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013, Las Cruces had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Inorganic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant code: Nitrate-Nitrite.
From Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012, Las Cruces had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Inorganic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant code: Nitrate-Nitrite.
Is there Lead in Las Cruces Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Las Cruces water system, Las Cruces Municipal Water System, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.003 mg/L of lead in Las Cruces water. This is 20.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Las Cruces contained more lead.
While Las Cruces water testing may have found 0.003 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Las Cruces Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Fort Bliss - near Las Cruces with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Las Cruces has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Las Cruces SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/16/2017 - | Resolved | Yes | Treatment Technique Violation (TT) | Failure To Address Deficiency (45) | Ground Water Rule (140) | Groundwater Rule (0700) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
| 07/16/2017 - | Resolved | Yes | Treatment Technique Violation (TT) | Failure To Address Deficiency (45) | Ground Water Rule (140) | Groundwater Rule (0700) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
| 07/16/2017 - | Resolved | Yes | Treatment Technique Violation (TT) | Failure To Address Deficiency (45) | Ground Water Rule (140) | Groundwater Rule (0700) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
| 03/01/2013 - 03/31/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) (24) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 01/01/2013 - 12/31/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Nitrates (331) | Nitrate-Nitrite (1038) | Chemicals (300) | Inorganic Chemicals (330) |
| 01/01/2012 - 12/31/2012 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Nitrates (331) | Nitrate-Nitrite (1038) | Chemicals (300) | Inorganic Chemicals (330) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Las Cruces Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 680 N MOTEL BLVD LAS CRUCES, NM, 88007 |
Existing customers can login to their Las Cruces Municipal Water System account to pay their Las Cruces water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Las Cruces Municipal Water System bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Las Cruces water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Las Cruces water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Las Cruces means you will often need to put the water in your name with Las Cruces Municipal Water System. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Las Cruces means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Las Cruces Municipal Water System. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.76 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Las Cruces, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Las Cruces Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Las Cruces's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
2020 Consumer Confidence Report
Annual
Water Quality
Las Cruces Utilities - Water Section
University Estates Water System (NM3512407)
Annual
Water
Is my water safe?
We are pleased to present this year’s Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report [CCR]) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year’s water quality. Las Cruces Utilities is committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.
Do I Need To Take
Special Precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
C o n s u m e r C o n f i d e n c e R e p o r t
Quality
The Water We Drink
University Estates Water System consists of nine production wells and five storage tanks with approximately 1,770 service connections which service about 5,385 people. The system wells are at a depth of 320 to 590 feet into the Mesilla Bolson. While these deep groundwater sources provide for protection from many surface contaminants and drought resilience, small amounts of naturally occurring minerals dissolve into the water and account for moderate levels of calcium, manganese, and iron. This common “hard water” typical of groundwater sources in the Southwest can affect the aesthetic quality of the water by increasing hardness, and may slightly alter the color and taste.
Source Water Assessment & Its Availability
The Source Water Assessment (SWA) by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau provides baseline data about the quality of our water before it is treated and distributed
to consumers. This is important because it identifies the origins of potential contaminants, and indicates the susceptibility of our water system to contamination. Because we pump water from deep aquifers, the likelihood of this kind of contamination is low, but can occur under some circumstances and must be evaluated. For additional information regarding the SWA please contact David Torres of NMED via phone at 505.841.5306 or via email at david.torres@state.nm.us.
Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many
Save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take minutes to replace. To check for a toilet leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fix it or replace it with a new, more efficient model.
Save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
Only run clothes washer and dishwasher when full.
Water plants only when necessary.
Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
Save up to 500 gallons a month.
Shut off water when brushing teeth, washing hair, and shaving.
Save up to 750 gallons a month.
Use a
- a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath.
Teach your kids about water conservation
to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month’s water bill!
The City of Las Cruces encourages residents to water outdoor vegetation wisely to conserve for future demand. The restrictions apply to all residential and commercial properties served by Las Cruces Utilities. Please comply with the City of Las Cruces Water Conservation Ordinance.
Outdoor Watering Restrictions
Sunday |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday |
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Friday |
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Saturday |
ODD |
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NO WATERING |
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EVEN |
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ODD |
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EVEN |
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ODD |
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EVEN |
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Between April 1st and September 30th all outdoor watering is prohibited between 10 am and 6 pm.
You Can Help Protect Our Source Water
Protection of drinking water is everyone’s responsibility. You can help protect your community’s drinking water source in several ways:
- Eliminate excessive use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides - they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
- Pick up after your pets.
- If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to nearby drinking water sources or consider connecting to a public wastewater system.
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Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil and other Household Hazardous waste (HHW) to the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) Recycling Center at 2855 W. Amador Ave (open 7 days a week) for disposal of residential amounts of used motor
oil and HHW. Additional information can be found at www.SCSWA.net.
How Can I Get Involved?
We encourage public interest and participation in our community’s water quality and decisions affecting drinking water. The Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Water Section holds public meetings as needed when specific issues concerning drinking water affect our community. The most effective way to make comments or suggestions is to telephone or write directly to Adrienne L. Widmer, PE, Deputy Director Water. Her contact information is provided under the “Information Contacts” section of this pamphlet.
Concerns may also be brought before the City Council in their
at
Water Quality Data Table
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The following table lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. Although many more contaminants were tested, only those substances listed below were found in your water.
All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants. At low levels, these substances are generally not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive, and in most cases, would not provide increased protection of public health. A few naturally occurring minerals may actually improve the taste of drinking water and have nutritional value at low levels.
Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination. As such, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old. In this table you will find terms and abbreviations that might not be familiar to you. To help you better understand these terms, we have provided the definitions following the table
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Contaminants |
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Units |
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MCLG |
AL |
Your |
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Sample |
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No. Samples |
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Exceeds |
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Typical Source |
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Water |
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Date |
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Exceeding AL |
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AL |
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Inorganic Contaminants |
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Copper - action level at consumer taps |
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ppm |
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1.3 |
1.3 |
0.18 |
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2020 |
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0 |
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No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion |
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of natural deposits |
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Lead - action level at consumer taps |
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ppb |
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0 |
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15 |
4 |
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2020 |
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0 |
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No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion |
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of natural deposits |
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Contaminants |
Units |
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MCLG or |
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MCL, TT, |
Detect Level In |
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Range |
Sample |
Violation |
Typical Source |
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MRDLG |
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or MRDL |
Your Water |
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Low |
High |
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Date |
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Disinfectants & Disinfection By- |
Products |
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(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant |
is necessary for control of microbial contaminants) |
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Chlorine (as Cl2) |
ppm |
4 |
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4 |
1 |
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0.3 |
0. |
2020 |
No |
Water additive used to control microbes |
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Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
ppb |
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NA |
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60 |
4.6 |
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3.8 |
4.6 |
2020 |
No |
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Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
ppb |
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NA |
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80 |
26 |
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18 |
26 |
2020 |
No |
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Inorganic Contaminants |
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Arsenic |
ppb |
0 |
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10 |
3.5 |
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2.5 |
3.5 |
2020 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Barium |
ppm |
2 |
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2 |
0.062 |
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0.051 |
0.062 |
2020 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Fluoride |
ppm |
4 |
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4 |
0.41 |
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0.26 |
0.41 |
2020 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Radioactive Contaminants |
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Alpha emitters |
pCi/L |
0 |
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15 |
1.3 |
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ND |
1.3 |
2019 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Beta/photon emitters |
pCi/L |
0 |
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50 |
8.4 |
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3.3 |
8.4 |
2019 |
No |
Decay of natural and |
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Radium (combined 226/228) |
pCi/L |
0 |
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5 |
0.83 |
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0.15 |
0.83 |
2019 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Uranium |
µg/L |
0 |
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30 |
18 |
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2 |
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18 |
2019 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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Term |
Definition |
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AL |
Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other |
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requirements which a water system must follow. |
MCL |
Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. |
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MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. |
MCLG |
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which |
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there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. |
MNR |
Monitored Not Regulated |
MRDL |
Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. |
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There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial |
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contaminants. |
MRDLG |
Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which |
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there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of |
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disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
MPL |
State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level |
- Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Variances & State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions. Exemptions
Term |
Definition |
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µg/L |
Number of micrograms of substance in one |
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liter of water |
ppm |
parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L) |
ppb |
parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L) |
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ppt |
parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter |
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pCi/L |
picocuries per liter |
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(a measure of radioactivity) |
NA |
not applicable |
ND |
Not detected |
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NR |
Monitoring not required, but recommended. |
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Undetected Contaminants |
The following contaminants were monitored but not detected in your water. |
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Contaminants |
Unit |
MCLG or |
MCL, TT, |
Your |
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Violation |
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Typical Source |
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MRDLG |
or MRDL |
Water |
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ppb |
200 |
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200 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories |
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ppb |
3 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
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ppb |
7 |
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7 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
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ppb |
70 |
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70 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from |
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ppb |
0 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
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ppb |
0 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
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ppb |
50 |
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50 |
ND |
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No |
Residue of banned herbicide |
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ppb |
70 |
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70 |
ND |
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No |
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops |
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Alachlor |
ppb |
0 |
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2 |
ND |
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No |
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops |
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Antimony |
ppb |
6 |
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6 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder; |
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test addition. |
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Atrazine |
ppb |
3 |
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3 |
ND |
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No |
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops |
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Benzene |
ppb |
0 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills |
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Benzo(a)pyrene |
ppt |
0 |
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200 |
ND |
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No |
Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution lines |
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Beryllium |
ppb |
4 |
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4 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from metal refineries; Discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense |
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industries |
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Cadmium |
ppb |
5 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from metal |
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refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints |
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Carbofuran |
ppb |
40 |
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40 |
ND |
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No |
Leaching of soil fumigant used on rice and alfalfa |
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Carbon Tetrachloride |
ppb |
0 |
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5 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities |
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Chlordane |
ppb |
0 |
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2 |
ND |
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No |
Residue of banned termiticide |
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Chlorobenzene |
ppb |
100 |
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100 |
ND |
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No |
Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories |
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(monochlorobenzene) |
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Chromium |
ppb |
100 |
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100 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits |
|||
Cyanide |
ppb |
200 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories; Discharge from steel/metal factories |
|||
Dalapon |
ppb |
200 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way |
|||
Di |
ppb |
400 |
|
400 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from chemical factories |
|||
Di |
ppb |
0 |
|
6 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from rubber and chemical factories |
|||
Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) |
ppt |
0 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant used on soybeans, cotton, and orchards |
|||
Dichloromethane |
ppb |
0 |
|
5 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from pharmaceutical and chemical factories |
|||
Dinoseb |
ppb |
7 |
|
7 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables |
|||
Diquat |
ppb |
20 |
|
20 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from herbicide use |
|||
Endothall |
ppb |
100 |
|
100 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from herbicide use |
|||
Endrin |
ppb |
2 |
|
2 |
ND |
|
No |
Residue of banned insecticide |
|||
Ethylbenzene |
ppb |
700 |
|
700 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from petroleum refineries |
|||
Ethylene dibromide |
ppt |
0 |
|
50 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from petroleum refineries |
|||
Glyphosate |
ppb |
700 |
|
700 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from herbicide use |
|||
Heptachlor |
ppt |
0 |
|
400 |
ND |
|
No |
Residue of banned pesticide |
|||
Heptachlor epoxide |
ppt |
0 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Breakdown of heptachlor |
|||
Hexachlorobenzene |
ppb |
0 |
|
1 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from metal refineries and agricultural chemical factories |
|||
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene |
ppb |
50 |
|
50 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from chemical factories |
|||
Lindane |
ppt |
200 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cattle, lumber, gardens |
|||
Mercury (Inorganic) |
ppb |
2 |
|
2 |
ND |
|
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from refineries and factories; |
|||
|
|
Runoff from landfills; Runoff from cropland |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Methoxychlor |
ppb |
40 |
|
40 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock |
|||
Nitrate (measured as Nitrogen) |
ppm |
10 |
|
10 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
|||
Nitrite (measured as Nitrogen) |
ppm |
1 |
|
1 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
|||
Oxamyl (Vydate) |
ppb |
200 |
|
200 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on apples, potatoes and tomatoes |
|||
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
ppt |
0 |
|
500 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff from landfills; Discharge of waste chemicals |
|||
Pentachlorophenol |
ppb |
0 |
|
1 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from wood preserving factories |
|||
Picloram |
ppb |
500 |
|
500 |
ND |
|
No |
Herbicide runoff |
|||
Selenium |
ppb |
50 |
|
50 |
ND |
|
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|||
Simazine |
ppb |
4 |
|
4 |
ND |
|
No |
Herbicide runoff |
|||
Styrene |
ppb |
100 |
|
100 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; Leaching from landfills |
|||
Tetrachloroethylene |
ppb |
0 |
|
5 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from factories and dry cleaners |
|||
Thallium |
ppb |
0.5 |
|
2 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from electronics, glass, and Leaching from |
|||
Toluene |
ppm |
1 |
|
1 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from petroleum factories |
|||
Toxaphene |
ppb |
0 |
|
3 |
ND |
|
No |
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton and cattle |
|||
Trichloroethylene |
ppb |
0 |
|
5 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories |
|||
Vinyl Chloride |
ppb |
0 |
|
2 |
ND |
|
No |
Leaching from PVC piping |
|||
Xylenes |
ppm |
10 |
|
10 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from petroleum factories; Discharge from chemical factories |
|||
ppb |
70 |
|
70 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
||||
ppb |
600 |
|
600 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
||||
ppb |
75 |
|
75 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
||||
ppb |
100 |
|
100 |
ND |
|
No |
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
||||
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800.426.4791).
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity:
- microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
- inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
- pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses;
-
organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and - radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Additional Information
for Arsenic
While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
for Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. University Estates (NM3512407) is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to
2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Information
Contac ts
Las Cruces Utilities –
Water Operations and Maintenance Line of Business
Adrienne L. Widmer, P.E., Deputy Director Water
P.O. Box 20000, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004
Utilities Department Phone: 575.528.3515
NMED Las Cruces District Office
2301 Entrada del Sol, Las Cruces, NM 88001 Phone: 575.288.2050 www.env.nm.gov/
NMED Drinking Water Bureau -
Source Water Assessment
David Torres
Phone: 505.841.5306
Email: David.Torres@state.nm.us
EPA- Groundwater and Drinking Water
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (Mail Code 4606M), Washington, DC 20460
Drinking Water Hotline: 1.800.426.4791
EPA - CCR Information for Consumers
Drinking Water Hotline: 1.800.426.4791
www.epa.gov/ccr
EPA - Water Sense
Water Sense Helpline: 1.866.987.7367
www.epa.gov/watersense
American Water Works Association
6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235 USA Phone: 1.800.926.7337
www.awwa.org
The Groundwater Foundation
3201 Pioneers Blvd Suite 105, Lincoln, NE 68502 Phone: 1.800.858.4844 www.groundwater.org
This report can be made available in alternative formats upon request. To make a request call 575.528.3515 or TTY 575.528.3541.
El informe contiene informacion importante sobre la calidad del agua en su comunidad. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
Contaminants
Las Cruces Municipal Water System
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the New Mexico Environment Department, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 93030
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Groundwater
- Total: 26
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Uranium
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Barium
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Trichloroethylene
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
The tap water in Las Cruces, NM is considered to be one of the best in the world. The tap water has been tested many times over and found to be as clean and healthy as the water that comes from the tap. The city water systems have taken very good care of their customers by providing them with the cleanest tap water possible.
The city of Las Cruces, NM offers its residents clean tap water through the City Water Company. This company is a division of Las Cruces Utilities & Water. It is owned by the City of Las Cruces Utilities & Water Company, Inc. The city of Las Cruces, NM also owns the facilities that will get your water to your home or office.
The City Water Company has installed new water filters throughout the city. Each water filter will remove a specific type of harmful chemicals that might otherwise be present in the tap water. In addition, every water filter used by the company also adds an anti-microbial agent to protect the water against bact