EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A water advisory has been issued for parts of Santa Teresa and Sunland Park, according to the Dona Ana County Government Center Facebook page.
The advisory is being sent out on behalf of the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, the County Facebook page said.
“On Wednesday, Nov. 29, we received reports about bitter water conditions in the service areas of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. CRRUA personnel responded quickly and discovered an issue with a pump that caused increased pH levels of the water supply, which was quickly corrected,” according to the advisory.
The New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau has confirmed that a “Do Not Drink” order is required for the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority.
“The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority issued an advisory on Friday, December 1, 2023, after elevated pH levels were detected in the water system’s distribution system. Drinking Water Bureau staff are investigating the cause of the high pH levels and working with CRRUA to gather additional information about this incident.
“New Mexico drinking water regulations require CRRUA to notify their water system consumers as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours if the safety of a water supply is endangered for any reason. NMED staff were first informed about the incident in the afternoon of Friday, December 1, 2023,” according to the New Mexico Environment Department.
The following areas in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa are impacted:
• Valencia Park
• Villa Valencia
• Mason Farms
• The Grove
• Edgemont
• Casas Lindas
• Bluffs
• Tuscan Ridge
Due to the current pH level, residents in these affected areas are advised not to use the water coming out of the faucets for drinking, washing dishes, or bathing, according to the County Facebook page.
According to the advisory, CRRUA personnel is working with the Sunland Park Fire Department to flush hydrants in the surrounding areas. Once the system has returned to normal pH levels, CRRUA will send out another notification.
The City of Sunland Park is working with CRRUA to deliver bottled water to locations in the affected area. CRRUA customers may pick up bottled water at the following locations until 10 p.m. on Friday.
• Fire Station #2 – 5650 McNutt Rd., Sunland Park
• The Sports Complex – 4700 McNutt Rd., Santa Teresa
• Santa Teresa Elementary School, 201 Comerciantes Blvd.
According to the New Mexico Environment Department, customers of the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority are encouraged to use bottled water for all purposes including:
Drinking
Making coffee, tea, and other drinks
Making ice
Cooking
Washing fruits, vegetables, and dishes
Using the water to feed a baby
Brushing teeth
Bathing
Providing as drinking water for pets
The NM Drinking Water Bureau “will provide oversight and offer technical assistance to the water system and require the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority to continue to test water until no further threat of contamination remains,” according to the news release sent out by the New Mexico Environment Department.
For questions or more information, you can call (575) 649-9349 or visit https://www.crrua.org/
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