Latest news with #CaminoRealRegionalUtilityAuthority
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State hearings on Southern New Mexico water utility fines postponed
A photo of the drying bed at the Santa Teresa Community Arsenic Treatment Facility included in a recent inspection of the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority. (Courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / David Esparza) Attorneys for state regulators and a Southern New Mexico water utility facing $250,000 in fines for arsenic level violations have agreed to push back hearings about the penalties. The hearings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday will now be held sometime in the fall, according to a joint motion filed last week by attorneys for Camino Real Regional Utility Authority and the New Mexico Environment Department. The utility supplies water for more than 19,000 people in Sunland Park, Santa Teresa and southern Doña Ana County, an area with high levels of naturally-occurring arsenic in the groundwater. State regulators first issued fines of more than $251,000 in March 2024, after findings that the utility's arsenic treatment plants were 'offline and bypassed' for more than a year, sending drinking water with 'high levels of arsenic' to residents. Drinking water with high levels of arsenic is associated with diseases such as diabetes, increased risk of cancers, and can contribute to heart and lung diseases and skin problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Utility leadership has said in statements that they take the concerns seriously and have worked to lower arsenic levels, achieving compliance with federal standards. However, after a series of failed tests in May public officials and the state's top environment officials said they've lost confidence in the utility's leadership to address the chronic issues. In late May, the New Mexico Environment Department filed an amended complaint, claiming that the utility delayed reporting elevated arsenic levels for multiple days and failed to specifically report them to the state. 'The continuing cycle of non-compliance by Respondent which compromises the public's access to safe and reliable drinking water requires the application of a bad faith enhancement for each of the violations which are the subject of this enforcement action,' the amended complaint stated Regulators raised the total fine to $252,000. Attorneys for the utility objected to the addition of new allegations for the upcoming June hearing, and requested more time to address them. Both the utility and the environment department agreed to a calendar extending witness and discovery deadlines into August, with a final date for the new hearing to follow. The utility faces additional court dates beyond the administrative hearing later this year. A 3rd Judicial District Judge ordered parties to submit a further schedule in the civil lawsuit the state brought earlier this month against the utility, requesting the judge appoint a third party to take over the utility's operations. A hearing is scheduled for July in the civil lawsuit brought last year, which alleges the utility violated residents' civil rights. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunland Park considers creating its own water utility following CRRUA split
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Sunland Park city officials are now laying out their plans to move forward following the termination of the joint powers agreement that established the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA). CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. Doña Ana County cuts ties with CRRUA after years of water quality issues During a press conference on Wednesday, May 28, city leaders announced they are preparing a resolution that would allow Sunland Park to create its own water and wastewater department. This comes after Doña Ana County voted to end its agreement with CRRUA, citing years of resident complaints about water quality. Doña Ana County takes steps to terminate Camino Real Regional Utility Authority 'Our staff is going to be presenting a resolution that is requesting support from the city council to establish our own water and wastewater department to make sure that we are prepared in case of the decision that the county wants to separate the assets, and we have to create our own water wastewater service,' Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea said. In addition to the possible creation of a new department, the city plans to request $1.2 million from municipal funds to address infrastructure problems, including the ongoing issue of discolored water that many residents have reported over the years. 'That will be necessary to address the tanks, the Anapra tank, the Middle Vista tank, and the Tierra Madre tank, all located within the City of Sunland Park, and hopefully reduce the number of incidents of discolored water within the city,' Perea said. The resolutions will be presented to the city council in the coming weeks, officials said. The transition away from CRRUA could take up to four years, with the agency continuing day-to-day operations during that time, according to city officials. In the meantime, Doña Ana County and the City of Sunland Park have activated a dedicated phone line and online form for CRRUA customers to report water-related issues or concerns. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish by calling (575) 525-5589. Doña Ana County activates support line for CRRUA customers For more information, or to access the support form, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Doña Ana County activates support line for CRRUA customers
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) customers will now be able to report any water-related issues or concerns via a dedicated phone line and online form. The Doña Ana County, in partnership with the city of Sunland Park, announced on Wednesday, May 28, in a news release. The County said residents and businesses with questions or concerns about water quality are encouraged to use the new support tools. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish by calling (575) 525-5589 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by filling out the online form. For more information or to access the support form, visit here Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CRRUA: Improvements help crews battle fire in Anapra; Addresses low water pressure in the area
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) said the utility has been addressing community concerns as they were notified of low water pressure in the Anapra area, particularly highlighted during a recent fire incident, the utility said in a news release. House catches fire in Sunland Park CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. The utility, in partnership with the City of Sunland Park, recently installed critical fire suppression infrastructure to the Anapra area that had been lacking, according to the news release. 'As part of a regional improvement initiative under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, CRRUA contributed $345,000 in match funding to install new fire hydrants, water lines, and water meters throughout the Anapra subdivision; an area that previously lacked this essential infrastructure,' CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby said. Crosby said CRRUA is aware of low water pressure in the Anapra area, as a structure fire happened there earlier on Thursday. However, he said that thanks to these recent improvements, first responders had access to nearby hydrants. 'Without these upgrades, the nearest hydrant would have been on McNutt Road, potentially delaying response efforts and increasing fire damage,' Crosby said. CRRUA said the Anapra Subdivision is in one of the oldest areas of the utility's water system. 'Water mains in the Anapra Subdivision were installed more than 40 years ago following codes and standards that were in effect at the time of construction. Many of the existing water mains are not large enough to meet current fire flow and pressure requirements,' read the news release. Crosby said while progress has been made, CRRUA recognizes the continued need for infrastructure enhancements, including the replacement of the existing 6-inch and 4-inch water main along McNutt Road with an 8-inch or 10-inch line to further support improved fire suppression and water pressure in Anapra. However, additional funding is required to undertake this next phase of improvement, according to the news release. 'CRRUA remains fully committed to securing funds and making the long-term investments needed to strengthen the entire utility system,' Crosby said. 'CRRUA is dedicated to ensuring safe, sustainable, and efficient utility services while proactively investing in infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing community,' Crosby added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
