Public water system · NM3513114
ActiveRuidoso Water System
At a glance
Ruidoso Water System (PWSID NM3513114) is an active community water system in Lincoln County, New Mexico. It reports serving 15,947 people through 7,183 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
15,947
Service connections
7,183
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ruidoso Water System compare with other water systems in Lincoln County?
By EPA's size categories, Ruidoso Water System is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Lincoln County has 53 active public water systems, and Ruidoso Water System is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 24 times the county average of 675 people per system, and accounts for 45% 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 Water System is about 138% 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 37 New Mexico systems (3.2%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Ruidoso Water System?
EPA lists Ruidoso 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 Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2021. The violations listed here began between April 2016 and May 2021. By type: 4 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 required treatment not met and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (4 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-02 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique Precursor Removal · code 46 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique Precursor Removal · code 46 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-05-14 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-05-14 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-06-02 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherSample Siting Plan Errors (RTCR) · code 5A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2016-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | 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 Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ruidoso Water System?
Ruidoso Water System (PWSID NM3513114) 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 Water System serve?
Ruidoso Water System reports serving 15,947 people through 7,183 service connections in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Where does Ruidoso Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Ruidoso Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 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 Ruidoso 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, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 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 Ruidoso Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Ruidoso 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 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 |
| 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 Water System, PWSID NM3513114, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/ruidoso-water-system-nm3513114 (data as of October 1, 2026).