While CRRUA’s drinking water meets health-based standards, this outreach follows an NMED public meeting earlier this year regarding previous excessive arsenic levels in drinking water.
Source: New Mexico Environment Department
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department will return to the Sunland Park and Santa Teresa communities Sept. 29–Oct. 1 for three days of one-on-one resident consultations and a public meeting focused on Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) drinking water quality, regulatory oversight and ongoing community concerns.
While CRRUA’s drinking water meets health-based standards, this outreach follows an NMED public meeting earlier this year regarding previous excessive arsenic levels in drinking water. At the upcoming events, NMED staff will provide updated information on drinking water actions while gathering additional input from residents.
“We heard clearly from this community that rebuilding trust requires more than a one-time meeting or a short-term solution,” NMED Compliance and Enforcement Director Bruce Baizel said. “We are coming back to listen directly to residents, answer questions and better understand what long-term support from the state should look like.”
The CRRUA has been in compliance with state and federal drinking water requirements since Jan. 28, 2025. The upcoming consultations are intended to provide NMED with additional information about resident concerns and the community’s experience with CRRUA’s drinking water and customer service.
NMED will also use the consultations to evaluate potential next steps for continued coordination with residents and local governments, including whether an advisory committee would be beneficial to the community.
One-on-one community consultations
NMED staff will offer 20-minute, one-on-one consultations on a walk-in basis; no appointment is required.
WHERE: Doña Ana Community College Sunland Park Center — 3365 McNutt Road, Sunland Park, New Mexico 88063
WHEN:
- Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Community meeting
NMED will also host a public community meeting featuring presentations on drinking water quality, source water protection planning and current regulatory and enforcement actions, followed by a question-and-answer session.
WHERE: Multi-Gen Building at Sports Complex Park — 4700 McNutt Road, Santa Teresa, New Mexico 88063
WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026
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