The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) has corrected 18 of 20 deficiencies identified by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) in its 2026 sanitary survey of CRRUA.
NMED sanitary surveys are comprehensive on-site evaluations that assess a water system's ability to provide reliable service and drinking water that meets government standards by reviewing infrastructure, operations, maintenance practices, management, and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. They are conducted every three years.
NMED conducted the sanitary survey on July 21, 2026, and released the results on Aug. 20, 2026. Since then, CRRUA corrected 18 of the 20 deficiencies for a completion rate of 90%
“CRRUA arsenic treatment facilities (ATFs) have been NMED Compliant since January 2025 based on NMED’s running annual average,” said Executive Director Juan Crosby.
“CRRUA’s continued compliance reflects our team’s dedication and diligence in ensuring that our water system meets all applicable federal and state regulatory standards. This achievement underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering clean water and reliable service to our customers in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, New Mexico,” Crosby said.
The two remaining deficiencies are the installation of a splash pad at the Tierra Madre water tank to minimize soil erosion and monitoring system upgrades at the four ATFs. Corrections to both are dependent on funding availability.
CRRUA initiated a Progress Checklist to track the corrections and updates the checklist as corrections are made. It is available for viewing on the CRRUA website at crrua.org.
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Photo: NMED Bureau Chief Avery Young (left) with the department's Water Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau examines arsenic test results from water samples taken at one of four arsenic treatment facilities CRRUA operates during NMED’s July 21, 2026 sanitary survey. Also pictured are Raul Rangel (center) CRRUA assistant operations manager and Tim Willy, NMED compliance officer.