EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) said it completed the second of two follow-up tests of an arsenic treatment facility (ATF) that “slightly” exceeded the federal limit for arsenic in the utility’s voluntary monthly tests for April.
CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) MCL for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb). The second follow-up test results for the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF were 8 ppb, which is below the 12 ppb in the first follow-up test and the 12 ppb in the CRRUA voluntary monthly test for April, the utility said.
CRRUA said results are from Eurofins Environment Testing, an independent water lab certified by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), from samples taken on May 14.
The first follow-up test was conducted on May 6, the utility said.
CRRUA voluntarily conducted the two follow-up tests at the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF as a “self-governance measure and to assure customers that water at the facility meets government regulatory standards,” the utility said.
“This is the second straight NMED quarterly compliance test period in which all four CRRUA ATFs passed based on the RAA,” CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby said.
“Although the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) recent quarterly sample reported an arsenic level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) at the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF, which exceeds the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 ppb, it is important to clarify that federal and state regulations determine compliance based on the Running Annual Average (RAA) of arsenic levels, not on a single sample result,” Crosby said.
“CRRUA remains in compliance with arsenic standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and our Arsenic Treatment Facilities continue to operate as intended. We are committed to maintaining full transparency by sharing results from both regulatory samples and voluntary testing. Our priority is to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water to our community,” Crosby added.
The utility said results of NMED’s second quarter 2025 arsenic tests from water samples taken May 7, confirm that based on the RAA, the Border Entry ATF (RAA 3.8 ppb,) Santa Teresa Industrial ATF (RAA 8.3 ppb,) Santa Teresa Community ATF (5.5 ppb,) and Sunland Park ATF (6.3 ppb) are NMED compliant.
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