Public water system record
Columbus Water System
Serves Columbus and City of the Sun, Luna County, NM · 2,200 people served
Federal records show 5 health-based violations and 6 monitoring/reporting issues for Columbus Water System in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Groundwater Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 5
- Resolved
- 5
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 6
Key facts
- Columbus Water System draws water from 2 wells.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by New Mexico, May 2004.
- Record on file since 1984, with 44 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 918 unknown out of 918 service lines.
Check whether Columbus Water System serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Jun 3, 2023 | Resolved | No |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Jun 3, 2023 | Resolved | No |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Jun 24, 2012 | Resolved | No |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Jun 24, 2012 | Resolved | No |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Jun 13, 2012 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Oct 1, 2025 | Active |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jul 23, 2025 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Aug 11, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Asbestos
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Aug 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Aug 1, 2019 | Resolved |
Full record since 1984
EPA's records for Columbus Water System go back to 1984. Before October 19, 2016 they list 44 health-based violations (41 resolved, 3 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 27 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2 | 0 |
| 1990s | 6 | 5 |
| 2000s | 33 | 16 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 3 | 6 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020s | 2 | 4 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Groundwater Rule, began June 2012, Resolved.
Show all 44 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jun 24, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jun 24, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jun 13, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.045 mg/L, federal limit 0.01 mg/L (4.5 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2008 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.1 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2008 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 15.1 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (at or just above the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.1 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 16.8 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.9 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.7 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 24.4 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.6 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.9 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 25 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.935 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 23.58 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.6 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.89 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.28 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2006 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.35 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.46 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.9 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 15.3 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (at or just above the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.54 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.9 times the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 30.95 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (2.1 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.1 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.8 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Apr 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jan 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 2003 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2003 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Apr 1, 2003 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jan 1, 2003 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 2002 | Resolved |
|
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2002 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2002 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Apr 1, 2002 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 1998 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 1997 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jan 1, 1996 | Resolved |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 1994 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1992 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 1, 1991 | Archived |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jan 1, 1986 | Archived |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1984 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
New Mexico regulators and EPA took 5 formal enforcement actions against Columbus Water System between 1994 and 2004. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in May 2004.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2004 | New Mexico | Compliance order (no penalty) | 23 violations (23 health-based): Fluoride |
| May 7, 2004 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 5 violations (5 health-based): Fluoride |
| Mar 30, 1999 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 7 violations (4 health-based): Total Coliform, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Fluoride |
| Aug 29, 1995 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 3 violations (2 health-based): Total Coliform, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Fluoride |
| Jun 21, 1994 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 3 violations (2 health-based): Total Coliform |
What the violations mean
Groundwater Rule
5 incidentsThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the Groundwater Rule requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about each of these violations.
Where the water comes from
Columbus Water System draws water from 2 wells.
Annual water quality report
Columbus Water System must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by New Mexico.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells