Our water system recently violated a drinking water regulation. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you
have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation. We monitor
monthly for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal and maintain a running annual average (RAA) of the results. During the
third quarter of 2024, (July, August, September 2024) the RAA for TOC removal was less than required.
What does this mean?
This ongoing TOC violation is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified immediately. Total organic
carbon has no health effects. However, TOC provides a medium for the formation of disinfection by-products. These byproducts
include trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Drinking water containing these by-products in
excess of the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) may lead to adverse health effects, liver or kidney problems, or nervous
system effects, and may lead to an increased risk of getting cancer.
What should I do?
You do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, please
contact your health care professional.
What is being done?
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is a result of decaying organic matter in the watershed. The nature of the TOC in our waters after
the Hermits Peak, Calf Canyon Fire has changed, making it more difficult to remove. Post fire TOC composition and reactivity
is more impactful than standard biological degradation. The fire-related impacts to the Gallinas River water quality could
continue for many years in the future. This TOC violation may also be reflected in violations related to high Disinfection by
Products (DBPs) in the drinking water.
City of Las Vegas Water Treatment Plant Staff and our engineers are working on process improvements including enhanced
coagulation to improve the TOC removal to acceptable levels. The options for reducing TOC include improved coagulation &
flocculation, granular activated carbon, activated oxidation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. The impacts to
the water quality in the river could continue for 15 years or more. These continuing TOC violations may also be reflected in
continuing TTHM and HAA5 Disinfection by product violations. We anticipate resolving the TOC problem by October of
2025.
For more information, please contact:
Travis Martinez: tmartinez@lasvegasnm.gov
505-454-3832
505-617-1015
City of Las Vegas, NM3518025
905 12th Street
Las Vegas, NM 87701
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for
example, people in apartments, nursing