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RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM

PWS ID: NM3524832 · ELEPHANT BUTTE, New Mexico 87935

RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM serves 5,374 people in ELEPHANT BUTTE, New Mexico using Groundwater water sources. It has 35 recorded EPA violations, including 4 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (1 compound found).

Water Quality Snapshot: RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM

RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,374 residents in ELEPHANT BUTTE, New Mexico (Valencia County) through 1,983 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 35 total violations for this system , of which 4 (11%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 19 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 9 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 43.3 ppt. 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. RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM's 35 violations sit below the New Mexico average. Statewide, 70 of 72 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (97.2%). 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
5,374
Total Violations
35
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
1,983
County
Valencia
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
19
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 9 2014
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2002
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 1997
TTHM MR 4 2014
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2014
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 1996
Nitrate MR 1 1980

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/6/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/6/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 6/6/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 6/6/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 6/6/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/6/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 6/6/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 6/6/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 6/6/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 6/6/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 6/6/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 6/6/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 4/18/2023 43.3000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/18/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/18/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/18/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 4/18/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 10/30/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 10/30/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 10/30/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 10/30/2023 35.4000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
NMeFOSAA 10/30/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 10/30/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 10/30/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 10/30/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 10/30/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 10/30/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 10/30/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 10/30/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 10/30/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 10/30/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 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 RIO COMMUNITIES 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 NM3524832 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
2014 Coliform (TCR) MR 9 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 3100
2014 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 2950
2014 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 2456
2002 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 7000
1997 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 3100
1996 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 5000
1980 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / NM3524832 / 1040

How RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM Compares

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

Metric RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM New Mexico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 35 149 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 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 5,374 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
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM water safe to drink? ▼
RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM (PWS ID: NM3524832) has 35 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 5,374 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM serve? ▼
RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM serves 5,374 people in ELEPHANT BUTTE, New Mexico. It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,983 service connections.
What type of violations does RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM have? ▼
RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM has 35 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 19 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM's water supply: lithium. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does RIO COMMUNITIES WATER SYSTEM use? ▼
RIO COMMUNITIES 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.

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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.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial