CRRUA Water Remains Safe to Consume

Passes 5th Arsenic Water Sample Test in a Row

(Copy of NOV is included below.)

On May 16, 2024, the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) that provides water service for Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, NM, mailed a notice of violation (NOV) letter to customers informing them that test results for the second quarter of 2024 (April -June) showed arsenic in the water that exceeded the federal limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb.)

According to New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) guidelines, test results are based on a Running Annual Average (RAA.) That means all water utility providers in the state must pass water sample tests conducted by NMED for four consecutive annual quarters, each quarter being three months, before NMED will certify that arsenic levels in the drinking are below the federal limit.

CRRUA passed the most recent water sample test conducted by NMED on April 3, 2024, which represents the second quarter of 2024, (April – June.)

While this is positive in that the drinking water provided by CRRUA is below the maximum federal limit as verified by NMED itself, CRRUA did not meet the federal standards in water sample tests conducted in the first quarter of 2024 (January – March) and previous consecutive quarters in 2023 during the previous administration.

The wording in the letter CRRUA customers received is confusing in that it states water samples taken from the Industrial Park Treatment Plant for the second quarter of 2023 (April – June) exceeded the federal limit for arsenic. However, that is based on the RAA that included results from previous consecutive quarters. It is not based solely on the results of the tests NMED conducted on April 3, 2024, which CRRUA passed.

This is the table provided by NMED that appears in the letter CRRUA customers received

In the form letter CRRUA customers received is a section where CRRUA can submit a response to NMED and customers. This is the CRRUA response that appears in the letter:

“Santa Teresa Industrial Park Treatment Plant is currently treating for arsenic and producing water below the EPA Standard of 0.010 mg/L. NMED Arsenic Sample taken on 04-03-2024 for 2nd quarter of 2024 was at 0.007 mg/L which is below the EPA Standards. The MCL for arsenic is determined by NMED on a running annual average (RAA) pursuant to 20.7.10.100 NMAC, incorporating 40 CFR 141.23(i)(1). It is CRRUA’s estimate that by end of year the RAA will be below the MCL.”

Once again, for second quarter 2024 (April – June) CRRUA PASSED the water sample tests conducted by NMED

On several occasions, CRRUA Executive Director Juan Carlos Crosby informed the CRRUA Board of Directors, the Dona Ana County Board of Commissioners, the Sunland Park City Council and news media that the information contained in the NOV, which is the RAA measuring standard and language used in the NMED template, could cause confusion.

Crosby has stated that perhaps in the future, the topic could be addressed with NMED with the goal of revising the wording to reflect actual circumstances.

Presently, and for the fifth time in a row, CRRUA passed its most recent arsenic water sample tests.

Test results released by Eurofins Environment Testing, a water testing lab certified by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED,) show that the latest arsenic levels at three of the four arsenic treatment facilities (ATF) operated by CRRUA are below the federal limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb.)

CRRUA excluded the Border Entry ATF from its voluntary twice monthly testing this test period due to its continued meeting of all NMED requirements.

In addition to CRRUA’s voluntary self-governance practice of twice monthly arsenic testing, NMED conducts its own quarterly testing.

Once again, NMED’s second quarter test results from water samples taken April 3, 2024, also showed arsenic levels below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb.)

CRRUA continues to provide water that arsenic tests prove are below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and is therefore safe to consume.

Copy of NOV Letter Mailed to CRRUA Customers