Public water system · NM3508817
ActiveThoreau Water & Sanitation District
At a glance
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District (PWSID NM3508817) is an active community water system in McKinley County, New Mexico. It reports serving 1,173 people through 345 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 February 2026.
This page covers its drinking water system only; sewer and wastewater service are not part of EPA's drinking water records.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,173
Service connections
345
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Thoreau Water & Sanitation District compare with other water systems in McKinley County?
By EPA's size categories, Thoreau Water & Sanitation District is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). McKinley County has 27 active public water systems, and Thoreau Water & Sanitation District is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 1,245 people per system, and accounts for 3.5% of the 33,611 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District?
EPA lists Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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. 8 of the 27 active systems in McKinley County (30%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Thoreau Water & Sanitation District have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. The violations listed here began between July 2022 and February 2026. By type: 7 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 3 required treatment not met, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Public Notice (3 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved and 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2025-10-24 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2025-08-28 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-10-23 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-23 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-07-28 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherFailure to Consult with State · code 20 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | 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.
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District: frequently asked questions
Who runs Thoreau Water & Sanitation District?
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District (PWSID NM3508817) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Thoreau Water & Sanitation District serve?
Thoreau Water & Sanitation District reports serving 1,173 people through 345 service connections in McKinley County, New Mexico.
Where does Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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 February 2026. 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 Thoreau Water & Sanitation District'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 February 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NM state drinking water program.
Where can I find Thoreau Water & Sanitation District's water quality report?
As a community water system, Thoreau Water & Sanitation District 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 McKinley County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallup Water System | McKinley | 20,880 | Community | Groundwater |
| Manuelito Rest Area | McKinley | 2,501 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Gamerco Water & Sanitation | McKinley | 1,744 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Gallup Port of Entry | McKinley | 1,500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| St Bonaventure Mission | McKinley | 1,350 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Speedys Black Hat Store | McKinley | 800 | 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, “Thoreau Water & Sanitation District, PWSID NM3508817, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/thoreau-water-sanitation-district-nm3508817 (data as of October 1, 2026).