Public water system · NM3523016
ActiveColumbus Water System
At a glance
Columbus Water System (PWSID NM3523016) is an active community water system in Luna County, New Mexico. It reports serving 2,230 people through 820 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,230
Service connections
820
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Columbus Water System compare with other water systems in Luna County?
By EPA's size categories, Columbus Water System is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Luna County has 14 active public water systems, and Columbus Water System is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 55% above the county average of 1,435 people per system, and accounts for 11% of the 20,096 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 Columbus 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 Columbus Water System?
EPA lists Columbus 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. 3 of the 14 active systems in Luna County (21%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Columbus Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025. The violations listed here began between October 2013 and October 2025. By type: 5 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 5 monitoring and reporting and 2 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Public Notice (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-07-23 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-08-11 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-06-03 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-06-03 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Asbestoscode 1094 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-06-20 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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.
Columbus Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Columbus Water System?
Columbus Water System (PWSID NM3523016) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Columbus Water System serve?
Columbus Water System reports serving 2,230 people through 820 service connections in Luna County, New Mexico.
Where does Columbus 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 Columbus Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025. 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 Columbus 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NM state drinking water program.
Where can I find Columbus Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Columbus 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 Luna County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deming Municipal Water System | Luna | 16,788 | Community | Groundwater |
| Desert Vista Rv Village | Luna | 222 | Community | Groundwater |
| Rock Hound State Park | Luna | 200 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Hidden Valley Ranch | Luna | 150 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Pecan Park Mdwca | Luna | 110 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bowlins Akela Trading Post | Luna | 100 | Transient non-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, “Columbus Water System, PWSID NM3523016, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/columbus-water-system-nm3523016 (data as of October 1, 2026).