New Mexico wants 138 local water systems including Philmont to address issues

[RememberSchiff]

Source NM  Daniel ProKop 08/09/2024

 

The 138 letters sent on July 29 by the New Mexico Environment Department declare that those drinking water systems responsible for sending water to at least 100,000 New Mexicans still haven’t fixed current outstanding water quality violations.

Once they receive the letter, the parties have 15-days to send their plans to resolve their issues with the state.

Failing to submit a plan means the water system could be fined $1,000 per day, the maximum penalty under state law.

...

We’re not going to be the outlier’

At least one small system operator said he’s planning his response.

Jason Smallwood, who operates water for the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch said the base camp is investing in a new treatment system that he said should eliminate water quality issues caused from byproducts of treatment chemicals called TTHM-1 and HAA5-1.

“The letter is what it is – it’s not that big of deal,” Smallwood said. “We’re going to address it and tell the state what we’re planning on doing to deal with it.”

“Hopefully, sending it out can help other people,” Smallwood added.

Beyond the base camp, which has had three drinking water violations, according to enforcement records and the drinking water watch records.

Smallwood, who’s held the position for two years, said Philmont is complicated, because it has 35 separate “systems” which can often just mean one sink and several spigots fed by a tank.

He said the state’s map shows that the systems have 92 violations in total, but added that most of them are not about the water quality, but inspection and paperwork issues regarding the far-flung water tanks.

Recently, he’s attended further trainings, and pointed to a record of decreased violations at the base camp’s water system. Smallwood said Philmont is spending money to put in new systems and working to address the contamination problems. He predicts a reckoning for water systems across the state.

“We’re not going to be the outlier,” he said. “We may look like it because of the state’s website, but there’s tons of water systems that are in way worse shape than ours.”

More at sources:

https://sourcenm.com/2024/08/09/drinking-water-issues-nm/

https://www.env.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Environment-Department-cracks-down-on-over-100-drinking-water-systems-for-jeopardizing-the-health-of-their-customers-FINAL.pdf

embedded map came from this source:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/b4bb9933e2a7418f86b7ceac6371411e

Edited August 20 by RememberSchiff

[RememberSchiff]

32 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

Jason Smallwood, who operates water for the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch said the base camp is investing in a new treatment system that he said should eliminate water quality issues caused from byproducts of treatment chemicals called TTHM-1 and HAA5-1.

This caught my attention as I am faced with TTHM and HAA5 in our drinking water here. I believe these are present due my town water dept using chloramine as a disinfectant, seemingly preferred over chlorine.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/factsheet-haloacetic-acids-and-total-trihalomethane-in-drinking-water-information-for-consumers/download

Edited August 20 by RememberSchiff

[Tron]

This is a nothing burger. Most residential wells and water systems do not require testing. I did water quality testing for 5 years and what I learned was if you don't look you don't see.