Public water system · NM3513214
ActiveRuidoso Downs Water System
At a glance
Ruidoso Downs Water System (PWSID NM3513214) is an active community water system in Lincoln County, New Mexico. It reports serving 2,146 people through 1,003 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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,146
Service connections
1,003
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ruidoso Downs Water System compare with other water systems in Lincoln County?
By EPA's size categories, Ruidoso Downs Water System is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Lincoln County has 53 active public water systems, and Ruidoso Downs Water System is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 3.2 times the county average of 675 people per system, and accounts for 6% 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 Ruidoso Downs 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 Ruidoso Downs Water System?
EPA lists Ruidoso Downs 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 Ruidoso Downs Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025. The violations listed here began between January 2006 and May 2025. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-02-04 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,2-Dichloropropanecode 2983 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Styrenecode 2996 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylenecode 2979 | 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.
Ruidoso Downs Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ruidoso Downs Water System?
Ruidoso Downs Water System (PWSID NM3513214) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Ruidoso Downs Water System serve?
Ruidoso Downs Water System reports serving 2,146 people through 1,003 service connections in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Where does Ruidoso Downs 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 Ruidoso Downs Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in May 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 Ruidoso Downs 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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in May 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 Ruidoso Downs Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Ruidoso Downs 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 |
| Capitan Water System | Lincoln | 1,821 | 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, “Ruidoso Downs Water System, PWSID NM3513214, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/ruidoso-downs-water-system-nm3513214 (data as of October 1, 2026).