New Mexico Utility Failed To Treat High Levels Of Arsenic
By Peak Johnson
Unsurprisingly, new cases of contaminated drinking water have been reported more frequently around the country since the lead contamination crisis in Flint, MI, a few months ago. Municipalities are attempting to take the necessary steps to ensure that their citizens have safe drinking water.
Recently, drinking water that had been supplied to thousands of residents in southern Doña Ana County, NM, was reported by the Las Cruces Sun-News as having high levels of arsenic for “quite some time.” The utility that is responsible for managing the water failed to report the violation to consumers.
The amount of arsenic exceeds standards allowed by the U.S. EPA and New Mexico Environment Department. According to the Las Cruces Sun-News, state environment department records show that there were violations as far back as 2013 of “unacceptable arsenic levels” in the utility's water system.
"We failed to adequately notify you, our drinking water consumers, about a violation of the drinking water regulations,” a Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) report said.
Bob Gallagher, Sunland Park's interim city manager, said a new CRRUA report to consumers is expected to be issued early next month. The Sunland Park City Council submitted two letters to CRRUA, through Gallagher, expressing concerns about the utility's operations.
"This report is sickening to read," Gallagher said of CRRUA's 2014 assessment. "They are playing with people’s health and life and need to be called out."
The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that the current arsenic levels in the drinking water are in compliance with federal standards.
"Our primary responsibility is to provide for the health and safety of our residents," Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea, a former CRRUA board member told the Las Cruces Sun- News. "They (CRRUA administrators) failed in communicating to our residents the fact that arsenic levels in the (drinking) water was not in compliance with state and federal standards. As of today, they are in compliance with those standards, but they should have done their due diligence in notifying everyone about that problem."
To read more about compliance with drinking water rules visit Water Online’s Drinking Water Regulations And Legislation Solutions Center.