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Community Water System · PWS NM3513114

Ruidoso Water System

Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 15,947 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

15,947
People served
671
EPA violations
116
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 671 drinking-water violations at Ruidoso Water System, 17% of them health-based - above the New Mexico per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

671
Total EPA violations on record
17%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
15,947
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Ruidoso Water System

Ruidoso Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 15,947 residents in Ruidoso, New Mexico (Lincoln County) through 7,183 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 671 total violations for this system , of which 116 (17%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 498 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 67 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5.4 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across New Mexico, EPA tracks 1,037 public water systems serving 2,027,497 people, with 154,522 cumulative violations and 38,650 health-based violations on record. About 97% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 149 violations. Statewide, 70 of 72 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (97.2%).

Ruidoso Water System's 671 violations sit above the New Mexico average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
15,947
Total Violations
671
Health-Based Violations
116
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
7,183
County
Lincoln
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
27
Monitoring Violations
498
Treatment Tech Violations
89

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 67 2016
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 47 2018
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 37 2012
Public Notice Other 16 2021
TTHM MCL 16 2021
Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 2008
Endrin MR 9 2005
Methoxychlor MR 9 2005
Toxaphene MR 9 2005
Dalapon MR 9 2005
Diquat MR 9 2005
Simazine MR 9 2005
Dinoseb MR 9 2005
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 9 2005
Atrazine MR 9 2005
LASSO MR 9 2005
Heptachlor epoxide MR 9 2005
2,4-D MR 9 2005
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 9 2005
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 9 2005
Chlordane MR 9 2005
Endothall MR 9 2005
Glyphosate MR 9 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 9 2005
OXAMYL MR 9 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 9 2005
Picloram MR 9 2005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 9 2005
Aldicarb MR 9 2005
Heptachlor MR 9 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 331 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Ruidoso Water System.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID NM3513114 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

New Mexico Drinking Water Authority

New Mexico's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find NM regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2021 Public Notice Other 16 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 7500
2021 TTHM MCL 16 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 2950
2020 CARBON, TOTAL TT 5 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 2920
2018 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 47 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 0200
2016 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 67 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 0200
2016 Chlorine MR 4 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 0999
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 8000
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule Other 3 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 8000
2012 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 37 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 0300
2012 E. COLI MR 3 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 3014
2010 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 3100
2010 Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule MR 3 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 0600
2008 Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 3100
2008 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 7000
2007 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / NM3513114 / 5000

How Ruidoso Water System Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Ruidoso Water System New Mexico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 671 149 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 116 37.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 97.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 15,947 1,955 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,037 regulated public water systems in New Mexico.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruidoso Water System water safe to drink? ▼
Ruidoso Water System (PWS ID: NM3513114) has 671 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 15,947 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Ruidoso Water System serve? ▼
Ruidoso Water System serves 15,947 people in Ruidoso, New Mexico. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 7,183 service connections.
What type of violations does Ruidoso Water System have? ▼
Ruidoso Water System has 671 total violations: 116 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 498 monitoring/reporting violations, and 89 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Ruidoso Water System water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Ruidoso Water System's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Ruidoso Water System use? ▼
Ruidoso Water System uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.