Las Vegas, NM – Yesterday, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issued a press release that includes a link to an interactive map, indicating that NMED will be intensifying its oversight of drinking water systems across the State of New Mexico. This announcement has raised considerable alarm within our community, particularly as we continue to grapple with water issues stemming from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
We want to address the recent report highlighting violations within the City of Las Vegas. The interactive map displays a total of 34 violations across various sectors, which includes:
· Water System Violations: They reported 27 unresolved water violations, which includes 8 relating to groundwater and community water systems that are outside the City's direct control. The numbers reported on the map are a misrepresentation and not reflecting real-time data. The City of Las Vegas currently has 8 active water deficiencies and 11 have been resolved. NMED has yet to reflect these updates.
· Food Safety and OSHA Violations: An additional 15 deficiencies pertain to food safety and OSHA violations in local businesses. We are actively collaborating with those local businesses to address these concerns.
The reports generated by NMED are based on quarterly sampling conducted by the State. This mandatory oversight sampling is compared with the routine testing conducted by the City. There is a time delay for publication of the NMED reports; however, there are no delays affecting the review or management of potential risk related to the data. We are engaging with NMED to advocate for better timed public reporting. Our goal is to enhance transparency and better serve the community by ensuring that information is made available in a more efficient and accessible manner.
In light of the concerns, we want to reassure all residents that the tap water provided by the City of Las Vegas is safe to drink and approved by the NM Drinking Water Bureau. The City is taking extensive measures to ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water, especially given the ongoing challenges related to post-fire water quality.
Our water is monitored daily by the City, in collaboration with the New Mexico Drinking Water Bureau and the New Mexico Environment Department. This ensures that any potential issues are identified and addressed promptly. We perform daily checks to monitor both water quality and water levels, guaranteeing that our system is operating properly. Our drinking water system filters are backwashed regularly to flush out any accumulated particles or debris, maintaining the effectiveness of our filtration system. Fire hydrants are flushed regularly to maintain water quality and clean the pipes that deliver water to homes and businesses.
The ongoing violations the City is addressing pertain to Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Total Organic Carbon (TOCs), both of which are expected and commonly detected post-wildfire.
· TTHMs are a type of disinfection byproduct with a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) allowed in drinking water of 0.080 mg/L. The average of this byproduct in the City water test at 0.067 mg/L, which is below the MCL acceptable threshold. Regular backwashing and flushing has been key to keeping the TTHMs under control.
· TOCs is a measurement of Total Organic Compounds and is commonly found in surface water after a wildfire. The goal is to keep this compound below 2.0%. The City is averaging 2.9%. NMED and the NM Water Drinking Bureau are aware of this heightened compound level; however, they have continued approving this level as acceptable for consumption. There are different water treatment methods and equipment the City is actively looking to implement in the near future to assist with reducing this level.
Treating elevated levels of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Total Organic Carbon (TOCs) after a wildfire is a significant challenge for municipalities. The City wants to reassure the community that our water is safe to drink and that we understand concerns you may have because we share them as well.
If you have further questions, please contact the NM Drinking Water Bureau at 505-827-7536 or the NM Environment Department at 505-827-0187. We will continue to remain transparent and honest with the Community as we continue to navigate the ongoing issues with our watershed. Our priority is the health and safety of our residents.