EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)—The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) announced on Monday, Oct. 14, that customers will receive a "notice of violation" letter from the utility informing them that their water system "has levels of arsenic above drinking water standards." But the utility also wants to explain that it has passed recent arsenic tests and that the alleged violation was based on a "running annual average" as determined by New Mexico Environment Department guidelines. CRRUA says it has passed quarterly arsenic tests again The utility, which provides water and wastewater service to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, has been under fire for months over concerns about water quality and discolored water. CRRUA said customers will receive by email a notice of violation (NOV) letter saying the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) test results for the third quarter of 2024 (July-September) showed arsenic in the water that exceeded the federal limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb). CRRUA corrects 7 more deficiencies identified by NMED "CRRUA in fact passed NMED’s third quarter arsenic tests. However, according to NMED guidelines, test results are based on a Running Annual Average (RAA)," read the news release sent by the utility. The utility said it passed the last two consecutive NMED quarterly tests, including NMED’s third quarter (July-September) tests from samples taken July 30. NMED 3RD QUARTER TEST RESULTS/JULY 30, 2024Sample LocationArsenic Treatment Facility (ATF)Sample Result       (ppb)Arsenic MCL     10 (ppb)Santa Teresa Border Entry (ATF)3.0Below MCLIndustrial Park Arsenic (ATF)4.0Below MCLSunland Park Arsenic (ATF)9.0Below MCLSanta Teresa Community5.0Below MCLData provided by CRRUA The letter customers will receive states that water samples taken from the Industrial Park Arsenic TP and Sunland Park Arsenic TP for the third quarter of 2024 (July-September) exceeded the federal limit for arsenic. CRRUA passes September arsenic tests, provides discolored water report However, that is based on the RAA that included results from previous consecutive quarters, CRRUA said. It is not based solely on the results of the tests NMED conducted from samples taken on July 30, which CRRUA passed, according to the utility. Sample LocationQuarter & YearRAA mg/LIndustrial Park Arsenic TP3rd Quarter 20240.020Sunland Park Arsenic TP3rd Quarter 20240.011Table provided by NMED that appears in the letter to CRRUA customers In the form letter to customers, there is a section where CRRUA can submit a response to NMED and customers. This is the CRRUA response that appears in the letter: What is being done? The Industrial Park Arsenic TP and Sunland Park Arsenic TP are currently treating for arsenic and producing water below the EPA Standard of 0.010 mg/L. The NMED arsenic sample taken at Industrial Park Arsenic TP on 07-30-2024 for the 3rd quarter of 2024 was at 0.004 mg/L which is below the EPA Standards. The NMED arsenic sample taken at Sunland Park Arsenic TP on 07-30-2024 for the 3rd quarter of 2024 was at 0.009 mg/L which is below the EPA Standards. NM auditor: CRRUA fraud, waste, abuse allegations remain ‘unfounded’ CRRUA Executive Director Juan Carlos Crosby said perhaps in the future, the wording of the NOV could be addressed with NMED with the goal of revising the wording to reflect actual circumstances. The utility also said it has passed 15 arsenic tests since Jan. 24, including its voluntary monthly test for October 2024, as verified by an NMED-certified independent water testing laboratory. CRRUA says it has passed October arsenic tests "CRRUA continues to provide water that arsenic tests prove are below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and is there for safe to consume," read the news release. You can read the letter sent to customers here: NOV-ATF-2024-Qtr-3.-Full-Letter-to-CustomersDownload