Public water system · NM3500319
ActiveWhite Sands National Park
At a glance
White Sands National Park (PWSID NM3500319) is an active transient non-community water system in Otero County, New Mexico. It reports serving 1,397 people through 15 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by the federal government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,397
Service connections
15
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
TNCWS
Transient non-community water system
System record
How does White Sands National Park compare with other water systems in Otero County?
By EPA's size categories, White Sands National Park is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Otero County has 55 active public water systems. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 1,292 people per system, and accounts for 2% 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 transient non-community water system reports serving 144 people, so White Sands National Park is about 9.7 times that figure.
What does “transient non-community water system” mean?
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. New Mexico has 369 active transient non-community water systems, 32% of the state's 1,165 active systems. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 62 New Mexico systems (5.3%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates White Sands National Park?
EPA lists White Sands National Park as owned by the federal 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. 6 of the 55 active systems in Otero County (11%) are also owned by the federal government.
Does White Sands National Park have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025. The violations listed here began between October 2001 and August 2025. By type: 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 3 monitoring, 3 monitoring and reporting, 1 required treatment not met and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved and 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-23 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2025-03-21 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-06-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-02-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-04-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-05-14 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2003-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
All 11 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.
White Sands National Park: frequently asked questions
Who runs White Sands National Park?
White Sands National Park (PWSID NM3500319) is a transient non-community water system owned by the federal government. It is regulated by the NM state drinking water program.
How many people does White Sands National Park serve?
White Sands National Park reports serving 1,397 people through 15 service connections in Otero County, New Mexico.
Where does White Sands National Park get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does White Sands National Park have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 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 White Sands National Park'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. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025. For current results, consult EPA ECHO, or the NM state drinking water program.
Where can I find White Sands National Park's water quality report?
The annual Consumer Confidence Report requirement applies to community water systems. White Sands National Park is a transient non-community water system, so it is not required to publish one; like every public water system, it must notify the people it serves about violations under EPA's public notification rules.
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 |
| Tularosa Water System | Otero | 3,485 | Community | Surface water |
| 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 |
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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, “White Sands National Park, PWSID NM3500319, New Mexico”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-mexico/white-sands-national-park-nm3500319 (data as of October 1, 2026).