Santa Fe –The New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau is announcing a "boil water advisory" for the Vallecitos Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (MDWCA).

Vallecitos MDWCA is required to issue the advisory on August 12, 2017 after bacteriological contamination (E. coli) was detected in repeat drinking water samples from the Vallecitos MDWCA water distribution system. New Mexico Drinking Water Regulations require Vallecitos MDWCA to notify their water system consumers of this finding.

Vallecitos MDWCA is a community public water system that serves approximately 92 customers. This public water systems is located in Rio Arriba County.

This advisory applies to the drinking water from the Vallecitos MDWCA, and does not extend to any other surrounding water systems.

Consumers of the Vallecitos MDWCA were advised to boil the water for one minute before drinking, cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, feeding a baby, brushing teeth, preparing drinks, making ice, and providing drinking water for pets. More details about precautions can be found in the following fact sheet: https://www.env.nm.gov/dwb/Documents/Boil_NMDOHNMED_7.13.16.pdf

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.

The NMED Drinking Water Bureau will provide compliance oversight and technical assistance to the water system and will require Vallecitos MDWCA to continue to test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.

For more information, please contact NMED Drinking Water Bureau Compliance Officer, Wayne Jeffs at (505) 476-8612.