Public water system · NM3512514
ActiveCapitan Water System
At a glance
Capitan Water System (PWSID NM3512514) is an active community water system in Lincoln County, New Mexico. It reports serving 1,821 people through 851 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,821
Service connections
851
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Capitan Water System compare with other water systems in Lincoln County?
By EPA's size categories, Capitan Water System is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Lincoln County has 53 active public water systems, and Capitan Water System is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 170% above the county average of 675 people per system, and accounts for 5.1% of the 35,786 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across New Mexico, the 1,165 active systems average 1,885 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Capitan Water System is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. New Mexico has 645 active community water systems, 55% of the state's 1,165 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,009 New Mexico systems (87%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Capitan Water System?
EPA lists Capitan Water System as owned by a local government. The NM state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 13 of the 53 active systems in Lincoln County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Capitan Water System have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2021. The violations listed here began between July 1991 and October 2021. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 required treatment not met, 1 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Revised Total Coliform Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved and 2 as archived. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-09-17 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-08-02 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-08-02 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-06-02 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherSample Siting Plan Errors (RTCR) · code 5A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1991-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 11 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Capitan Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Capitan Water System?
Capitan Water System (PWSID NM3512514) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Capitan Water System serve?
Capitan Water System reports serving 1,821 people through 851 service connections in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Where does Capitan Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Capitan Water System have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2021. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Capitan Water System's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2021. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NM state drinking water program.
Where can I find Capitan Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Capitan Water System must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Lincoln County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruidoso Water System | Lincoln | 15,947 | Community | Surface water |
| Ruidoso Downs Racetrack | Lincoln | 3,200 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District | Lincoln | 2,870 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ruidoso Downs Water System | Lincoln | 2,146 | Community | Groundwater |
| Carrizozo Water System | Lincoln | 1,136 | Community | Groundwater |
| Cds Rainmakers Util LLC Rancho Ruidoso | Lincoln | 877 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Capitan Water System, PWSID NM3512514, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/capitan-water-system-nm3512514 (data as of October 1, 2026).