February 11, 2026
Contact: Drew Goretzka, Director of Communications
New Mexico Environment Department
505.670.8911 | drew.goretzka@env.nm.gov

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department today announced a settlement with the
Camino Real Regional Utility Authority of five violations committed by the utility since 2023.
The settlement includes a penalty of $189,000, including a “bad faith” enhancement due to
CRRUA’s repeated lack of accountability during the enforcement process. The funds will be
deposited into the State’s Water Conservation Fund, which supports required water quality
sampling and operator training assistance for public water systems statewide.

“The Environment Department has for years worked to hold CRRUA accountable for repeatedly
failing its duty to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to the residents of Sunland Park,” said
Bruce Baizel, Director of NMED’s Compliance and Enforcement Division. “The
settlement announced today is a significant first step. We are still pursuing a court-appointed
independent manager to oversee operations going forward.”

Today’s settlement addresses five Notices of Violation issued to CRRUA between 2020 and
2024, including:
• Exceedance of federal Safe Drinking Water Act arsenic limits
• Failure to notify customers of high pH levels and take appropriate action to protect them
• Failure to correct deficiencies found in multiple sanitary surveys of CRRUA’s operations
CRRUA has met water quality standards in the past 12 months, but the system has several
outstanding administrative reporting violations.
In addition to today’s settlement, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is still
seeking a court-appointed independent manager to oversee operations, as well as:
• Implement real-time arsenic monitoring
• Distribute free arsenic test strips for all CRRUA customers
• Provide an alternative drinking water source if arsenic levels exceed state limits
• Conduct monthly public meeting