National Drinking Water Database

• Read the Research
• Get a Water Filter
• Tips for Safe Water
• FAQs
• EWG Needs Your Help. As little as $5 can help.

Anthony W&sd - Las Cruces, NM

---

Serves 7,125 people - Test data available: 2004-2006

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the New Mexico Environment Department. It is part of EWG's national database that includes 47,667 drinking water utilities and 20 million test results. Water utilities nationwide detected more than 300 pollutants between 2004 and 2009. More than half of these chemicals are unregulated, legal in any amount. Despite this widespread contamination, the federal government invests few resources to protecting rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater from pollution in the first place. The information below summarizes test results for this utility and lists potential health concerns.

The New Mexico Environment Department did not respond to requests for more recent test data. Contact your water utility for the latest water quality report.

	This Drinking Water System	National Average
Exceed Health GuidelinesTests showing chemicals at concentrations above health guidelines established by federal and state health agencies. These guidelines are typically set at a levels that pose no significant health risk.	17 chemicals	4
Health Standard ExceedencesChemicals detected at concentrations above the legal limit, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) established by the U.S. EPA. Most MCLs are based on annual averages, so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.	5 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	28 chemicals	8
Tests ConductedThe total number of number of water quality tests conducted by water utilities and recorded in data provided by the state water agency.	693 tests	420

Contaminants Exceeding Health Guidelines

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)Beta particles are a form of radiation frequently associated with nuclear testing and radioactive mineral deposits.	29.63 pCi/L 34.9 pCi/L	Yes	Yes 15 pCi/L
Combined Uranium (mg/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed uranium ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	15.83 ppb 35 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 30 ppb
Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium)Alpha particles are a form of radiation associated with radioactive mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	21.37 pCi/L 42.98 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	Yes 15 pCi/L
Arsenic (total)Arsenic contaminates drinking water due to mining runoff, erosion of natural deposits, emissions from glass and electronics processing and the use of arsenical compounds as wood preservatives and pesticides.	7.19 ppb 10.1 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 10 ppb
Nitrate & nitriteNitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, leaching from septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	4.69 ppm 20.9 ppm	Yes 10 ppm	Yes 10 ppm
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.78 pCi/L 2.05 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.19 pCi/L 0.28 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
Combined Radium (-226 & -228)Radium is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.98 pCi/L 2.33 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
Thallium (total)Thallium is a highly toxic metal that contaminates the environment due to leaching from ore-processing sites, discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories and historical use as rodenticide	0.29 ppb 0.3 ppb	Yes 0.1 ppb	No 2 ppb
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateDi(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a pollutant from rubber and industrial chemical factories and a leachate from PVC pipes; it is classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen.	0.05 ppb 0.43 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 6 ppb
DibromochloromethaneDibromochloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.13 ppb 0.67 ppb	Yes 0.4 ppb	No 80 ppb
BromodichloromethaneBromodichloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.02 ppb 0.11 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
BromoformBromoform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	1.08 ppb 5.41 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
Lead (total)Lead is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge of industrial pollution and erosion of natural deposits.	7.6 ppb 7.6 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No
Total haloacetic acids (HAAs)Total haloacetic acids refers to the sum of the concentrations of five related disinfection byproducts in a water sample: dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.	1.57 ppb 1.57 ppb	Yes 0.7 ppb	No 60 ppb
Alpha particle activityAlpha particles are a form of radiation released from mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	13.6 pCi/L 13.6 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 15 pCi/L
RadonRadon is a radioactive breakdown product of radium and uranium in soil, rock and water; it is often present in groundwater.	264 pCi/L 264 pCi/L	Yes 1.5 pCi/L	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Other Detected Contaminants

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
Barium (total)Barium is a mineral that enters drinking water through drilling and mining waste runoff, discharges from chemical industries and erosion of natural deposits.	116.29 ppb 153.54 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	5.21 ppb 5.6 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
Selenium (total)Selenium is a naturally occurring element that contaminates water due to mining or petrolum refining, fly-ash from coal-burning power plants, and irrigation of arid farmland soils high in selenium.	7.95 ppb 11 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	1.24 ppb 6.19 ppb	No 9.8 ppb	No 80 ppb
Antimony (total)Antimony is a metal that enters water from petroleum refinery pollution, fire retardants, ceramics, electronics and solder.	0.15 ppb 0.3 ppb	No 5.6 ppb	No 6 ppb
NitriteNitrite is a chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	0.01 ppm 0.02 ppm	No 1 ppm	No 1 ppm
Monochloroacetic acidMonochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.86 ppb 0.86 ppb	No 70 ppb	No 60 ppb
Dibromoacetic acidDibromoacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.7 ppb 0.7 ppb	No	No 60 ppb
CopperCopper is a naturally occuring metal and drinking water contaminant that enters tap water by corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.	50.05 ppb 50.05 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 1000 ppb
Uranium-238Uranium-238 is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	<0.01 pCi/L <0.01 pCi/L	No	No 0.03 pCi/L
Uranium-234 (pCi/L)	28.3 pCi/L 28.3 pCi/L	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Contaminants Not Detected - 113 chemicals

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2 Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dibromoethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 1,3-Dichloropropene, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-d, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, Aroclor 1016, Aroclor 1221, Aroclor 1232, Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1248, Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1260, Atrazine, Baygon (Propoxur), Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), Bromobenzene, Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Cadmium (total), Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chloroethane, Chloroform, Chloromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichloroacetic acid, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Diquat, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Methiocarb, Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Monobromoacetic acid, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Propachlor, sec-Butylbenzene, Simazine, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroacetic acid, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Pollution Summary

28	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2006) Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Copper, Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Thallium (total), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Monochloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Radon, Combined Uranium (mg/L), Uranium-238, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha particle activity, Uranium-234 (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
4	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Arsenic (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrite, Selenium (total)
6	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Arsenic (total), Copper, Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrite, Antimony (total)
18	Industrial Pollutants Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Thallium (total), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Uranium-238, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha particle activity, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
8	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Bromoform, Dibromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
17	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Copper, Nitrate & nitrite, Barium (total), Lead (total), Arsenic (total), Radium-228, Radium-226, Alpha particle activity, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Chromium (total), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Selenium (total), Nitrite, Radon, Uranium-238
3	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Lead (total), Radon, Uranium-234 (pCi/L)

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
MCL and Treatment (click see violations)close	4
Violation Date of Violation Maximum contaminant level, Monthly (Coliform bacteria) 2005/06/01 - 2005/06/30 Maximum contaminant level, Monthly (Coliform bacteria) 2005/10/01 - 2005/10/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Single Sample Arsenic (total) 2008/01/01 - 2008/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Arsenic (total) 2008/10/01 - 2008/12/31
Monitoring (click see violations)close	3
Violation Date of Violation Failure to monitor, Repeat Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/06/01 - 2005/06/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2005/07/01 - 2005/07/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2007/07/01 - 2007/07/31

Information on violations is drawn directly from EPA's national violations database in the Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System. Analyses by others have raised questions about the quality of the information in EPA's database. For the purposes of this investigation, EWG is not showing below or including in our analyses, those violations for individual water suppliers that occurred on days for which the total number of violations assigned by EPA to that water supplier was greater than 20. This criteria was based on common characteristics of incorrect violations data as identified by water utilities, from a review of EPA's violations data by several hundred utilities prior to the release of EWG's investigation.