Community Water System · PWS NM3530827
Elephant Butte Water System
Elephant Butte, New Mexico 87935 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 2,286 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 2,286
- People served
- 19
- EPA violations
- 5
- Health-based
- 1 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 19 drinking-water violations at Elephant Butte Water System, 26% of them health-based - below the New Mexico per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.
- 19
- Total EPA violations on record
- 26%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 2,286
- People served by this system
- 1
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Elephant Butte Water System
Elephant Butte Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,286 residents in Elephant Butte, New Mexico (Sierra County) through 1,073 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 19 total violations for this system , of which 5 (26%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 9 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 TTHM, recorded in 4 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 6.7 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%).
Elephant Butte Water System's 19 violations sit below 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.
1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 1,073
- County
- Sierra
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 5
- Monitoring Violations
- 9
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | MR | 4 | 2014 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | 2014 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 4 | 2006 |
| Public Notice | Other | 1 | 2009 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 1 | 2010 |
| Fluoride | MCL | 1 | 1984 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 232 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHpA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/7/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/7/2025 | 6.70 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFBS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 4/7/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 4/7/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 4/7/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/7/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 4/7/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/7/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/7/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/7/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/7/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/7/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 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 Elephant Butte Water System.
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 NM3530827 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
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 SDWISViolation 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 | TTHM | MR | 4 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 2950 |
| 2014 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 2456 |
| 2010 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 1 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 5000 |
| 2009 | Public Notice | Other | 1 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 7500 |
| 2006 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 4 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 3100 |
| 1984 | Fluoride | MCL | 1 | SDWIS / NM3530827 / 1025 |
How Elephant Butte Water System Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Elephant Butte Water System | New Mexico avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 19 | 149 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 5 | 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 | 2,286 | 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 Elephant Butte Water System water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Elephant Butte Water System serve? ▼
What type of violations does Elephant Butte Water System have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Elephant Butte Water System water? ▼
What water source does Elephant Butte Water System use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.