NMED News
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY — The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau (DWB) is confirming that a “boil water advisory” is required for the Chama Water System in Rio Arriba County.
Chama Water System was required to issue the advisory on May 10, 2023, after the water system notified NMED that the water system’s turbidity levels were above the required standards. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water, it is used to indicate water quality and filtration effectiveness. New Mexico Drinking Water Regulations require Chama Water System to notify their water system consumers of this finding as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours after the system is notified of the confirmation of the violation.
Chama Water System is a community public water system that serves approximately 1,573 users. This advisory applies only to drinking water from the Chama Water System and does not extend to any other surrounding water systems.
Chama Water System users are advised to boil water for three minutes before:
- Drinking;
- Making coffee, tea, and other drinks;
- Making ice;
- Cooking;
- Washing fruits and vegetables;
- Using the water to feed a baby;
- Brushing teeth; and
- Providing as drinking water for pets.
No contamination in the water system has been confirmed, however, elevated levels of turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
The NMED Drinking Water Bureau will provide compliance oversight and offer technical assistance to the water system and will require the Chama Water System to continue to test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.
More information about boil water advisories in English and Spanish is available here. For more information on today’s announcement, call the Drinking Water Bureau’s Compliance Supervisor, Wayne Jeffs at 505-469-7457.
About NMED
NMED does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in the administration of its programs or activities, as required by applicable laws and regulations. NMED is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. If you have any questions about this notice or any of NMED’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Kate Cardenas, Non-Discrimination Coordinator | NMED |1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050 | P.O. Box 5469 | Santa Fe, NM 87502 or (505) 827-2855 or nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov. If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a NMED program or activity, you may contact the Non-Discrimination Coordinator.