Rio Arriba County, New Mexico — public water systems

How does Rio Arriba County compare with other New Mexico counties?

Rio Arriba County has the 5th-most active public water systems among the 49 counties listed for active New Mexico systems in EPA records; among the 31 with 3 or more systems, the median has 23. Its systems report 29,192 people served in total, the 14th-largest county figure in the state and 1.3% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 463 people, well below the New Mexico average of 1,885. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Rio Arriba County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Rio Arriba County's active systems draw on groundwater (55, 87%), surface water (6, 9.5%), groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 1.6%) and purchased groundwater (1, 1.6%). Overall, 90% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 9.5% on surface water, compared with 93% and 7.2% across New Mexico. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Espanola Water System, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Rio Arriba County?

Rio Arriba County's active systems break down as 42 community systems (67%), 8 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 13 transient non-community systems (21%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (65%), private (19%), state government (9.5%) and federal government (6.3%).