Public water system · NM3514019
ActiveTularosa Water System
At a glance
Tularosa Water System (PWSID NM3514019) is an active community water system in Otero County, New Mexico. It reports serving 3,485 people through 1,310 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 March 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,485
Service connections
1,310
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Tularosa Water System compare with other water systems in Otero County?
By EPA's size categories, Tularosa Water System is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Otero County has 55 active public water systems, and Tularosa Water System is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 170% above the county average of 1,292 people per system, and accounts for 4.9% of the 71,046 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 Tularosa Water System is about half of 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 Tularosa Water System?
EPA lists Tularosa 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. 22 of the 55 active systems in Otero County (40%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Tularosa 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 March 2026. The violations listed here began between January 2026 and March 2026. By type: 7 required treatment not met, 4 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Groundwater Rule (8 of them). EPA lists 8 as addressed and 4 as archived. Addressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is covered by formal enforcement. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Archived |
| 2026-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Archived |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherFailure to Consult with State · code 20 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-02-26 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Archived |
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Archived |
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.
Tularosa Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Tularosa Water System?
Tularosa Water System (PWSID NM3514019) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does Tularosa Water System serve?
Tularosa Water System reports serving 3,485 people through 1,310 service connections in Otero County, New Mexico.
Where does Tularosa 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 Tularosa 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 March 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 Tularosa 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 March 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 Tularosa Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Tularosa 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 Otero County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamogordo Domestic Water System | Otero | 35,301 | Community | Surface water |
| Holloman Air Force Base | Otero | 13,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Cloudcroft Water System | Otero | 2,865 | Community | Groundwater |
| Timberon W and Sd | Otero | 2,698 | Community | Groundwater |
| La Luz Mdwca | Otero | 1,917 | Community | Surface water |
| White Sands National Park | Otero | 1,397 | Transient non-community | Purchased 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, “Tularosa Water System, PWSID NM3514019, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/tularosa-water-system-nm3514019 (data as of October 1, 2026).