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Community Water System · PWS NM3523728

Socorro Water System

Socorro, New Mexico 87801 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 11,953 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

11,953
People served
228
EPA violations
161
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 228 drinking-water violations at Socorro Water System, 71% of them health-based - above the New Mexico per-system average.

228
Total EPA violations on record
71%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
11,953
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Socorro Water System

Socorro Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 11,953 residents in Socorro, New Mexico (Socorro County) through 3,747 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 228 total violations for this system , of which 161 (71%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 33 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Arsenic, recorded in 133 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Socorro Water System's 228 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.

Population Served
11,953
Total Violations
228
Health-Based Violations
161
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
3,747
County
Socorro
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
161
Monitoring Violations
33
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Arsenic MCL 133 2013
Combined Uranium MCL 23 2006
OXAMYL MR 6 2008
Carbofuran MR 6 2008
Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 1995
Chlorine MR 4 2005
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2007
TTHM MR 4 2014
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2014
Public Notice Other 3 2015
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2022
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 2010
Asbestos MR 2 2002

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFMPA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/3/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/3/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/3/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/3/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/3/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/3/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/3/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/3/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/3/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/3/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/3/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/3/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/3/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Socorro 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 NM3523728 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
2022 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 7000
2015 Public Notice Other 3 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 7500
2014 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 2950
2014 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 2456
2013 Arsenic MCL 133 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 1005
2010 Coliform (TCR) MR 3 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 3100
2008 OXAMYL MR 6 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 2036
2008 Carbofuran MR 6 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 2046
2007 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 5000
2006 Combined Uranium MCL 23 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 4006
2005 Chlorine MR 4 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 0999
2002 Asbestos MR 2 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 1094
1995 Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 SDWIS / NM3523728 / 3100

How Socorro Water System Compares

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

Metric Socorro Water System New Mexico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 228 149 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 161 37.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 97.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 11,953 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 Socorro Water System water safe to drink?
Socorro Water System (PWS ID: NM3523728) has 228 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 11,953 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Socorro Water System serve?
Socorro Water System serves 11,953 people in Socorro, New Mexico. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 3,747 service connections.
What type of violations does Socorro Water System have?
Socorro Water System has 228 total violations: 161 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 33 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Socorro Water System water?
No. Socorro Water System was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Socorro Water System use?
Socorro Water System uses Groundwater 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.
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.