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(Santa Fe, NM) –The New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau has issued a “boil water advisory” for the El Vadito de Los Cerrillos Water Association Water System.

NMED issued the advisory on July 23, 2010 after bacteriological contamination that exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level for E. coli was discovered in drinking water at the water system. NMED requires the El Vadito de Los Cerrillos Water Association to notify water consumers of the finding. The El Vadito de Los Cerrillos Water Association Water System is located approximately 20 miles south of Santa Fe. This advisory only applies to customers served by the El Vadito de Los Cerrillos Water Association, and does not extend to any of the other surrounding water systems or communities.

Consumers of water at the El Vadito de Los Cerrillos Water Association Water System are advised to boil the water for five minutes before drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing. The presence of E. coli in water indicates that the water may have been in contact with sewage or animal wastes, and could contain disease-causing organisms. Most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. However, a positive test for E. coli in the drinking water supply may indicate the presence of dangerous strains of E. coli or other disease-causing organisms. These types of organisms may cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, death. Children, the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals are at an increased risk for illness.

Actions have been initiated to disinfect the water system and identify possible sources of contamination, establish acceptable disinfection, and flush out the water system. The NMED Drinking Water Bureau will provide technical assistance to the water system and will test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.

For more information, call NMED Communications Director Marissa Stone Bardino at (505) 827-0314 or (505) 231-0475 or Mike Huber, Drinking Water Bureau Compliance Manager, at (505) 660-3834.

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July 23, 2010 Contact: Marissa Stone Bardino, NMED Communications Director
For Immediate Release (505) 827-0314 or (505) 231-0475