Public water system · NM3501921
ActiveEspanola Water System
At a glance
Espanola Water System (PWSID NM3501921) is an active community water system in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. It reports serving 12,012 people through 3,930 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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
12,012
Service connections
3,930
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Espanola Water System compare with other water systems in Rio Arriba County?
By EPA's size categories, Espanola Water System is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Rio Arriba County has 63 active public water systems, and Espanola Water System is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 26 times the county average of 463 people per system, and accounts for 41% of the 29,192 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 Espanola Water System is about 79% above 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 Espanola Water System?
EPA lists Espanola 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. 41 of the 63 active systems in Rio Arriba County (65%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Espanola Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between June 2018 and October 2024. By type: 6 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 monitoring, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 required treatment not met and 1 reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Public Notice (5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-11-19 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-10-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-11 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-07-26 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-06-23 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-06-03 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | 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.
Espanola Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Espanola Water System?
Espanola Water System (PWSID NM3501921) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Espanola Water System serve?
Espanola Water System reports serving 12,012 people through 3,930 service connections in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Where does Espanola 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 Espanola Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. 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 Espanola 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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NM state drinking water program.
Where can I find Espanola Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Espanola 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 Rio Arriba County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chama Water System | Rio Arriba | 1,573 | Community | Surface water |
| Agua Sana Wua | Rio Arriba | 1,514 | Community | Groundwater |
| El Rito Regional Water & Waste Water Asn | Rio Arriba | 1,200 | Community | Groundwater |
| Greater Chimayo Mdwca | Rio Arriba | 1,050 | Community | Groundwater |
| Alcalde Mdwca | Rio Arriba | 927 | Community | Groundwater |
| Chamita Mdwca | Rio Arriba | 902 | 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, “Espanola Water System, PWSID NM3501921, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/espanola-water-system-nm3501921 (data as of October 1, 2026).