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ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

PWS ID: NM3558514 · ALTO, New Mexico 88312

ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT serves 2,870 people in ALTO, New Mexico using Groundwater water sources. It has 149 recorded EPA violations, including 0 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (1 compound found).

Water Quality Snapshot: ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,870 residents in ALTO, New Mexico (Lincoln County) through 1,341 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 149 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 59 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2007.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 4 violations (Other). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 65.2 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. ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT's 149 violations sit at 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
2,870
Total Violations
149
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
1,341
County
Lincoln
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
59
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) Other 4 1996
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2007
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 2006
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2006
Vinyl chloride MR 2 2006
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 2006
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 2006
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 2006
Trichloroethylene MR 2 2006
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 2006
Benzene MR 2 2006
Ethylbenzene MR 2 2006
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 2006
Xylenes, Total MR 2 2006
Toluene MR 2 2006
Styrene MR 2 2006
Asbestos MR 2 2002
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2001
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 1996
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2006
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2006
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 2006
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2006
Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 2006
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2006
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2006
Nitrate-Nitrite MR 2 2006
Barium MR 1 1982
Nitrate MR 1 1982
Mercury MR 1 1982

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/5/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/5/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/5/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/5/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/5/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/5/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/5/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/5/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/5/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/5/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/5/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/5/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/5/2024 64.7000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
PFPeA 8/5/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 2/20/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 2/20/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 2/20/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 2/20/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 2/20/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 2/20/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 2/20/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 2/20/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 2/20/2024 65.2000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
ADONA 2/20/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 2/20/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 2/20/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 2/20/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 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 ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT.

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 NM3558514 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
2007 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 5000
2006 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2964
2006 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2968
2006 Vinyl chloride MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2976
2006 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2980
2006 Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2982
2006 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2983
2006 Trichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2984
2006 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2985
2006 Benzene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2990
2006 Ethylbenzene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2992
2006 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2378
2006 Xylenes, Total MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2955
2006 Toluene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2991
2006 Styrene MR 2 SDWIS / NM3558514 / 2996

How ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT Compares

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

Metric ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT New Mexico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 149 149 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 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 2,870 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 ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT water safe to drink? ▼
ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT (PWS ID: NM3558514) has 149 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 2,870 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT serve? ▼
ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT serves 2,870 people in ALTO, New Mexico. It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,341 service connections.
What type of violations does ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT have? ▼
ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT has 149 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 59 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT's water supply: lithium. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT use? ▼
ALTO LAKES WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT 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