Water safe to use in some parts of New Mexico following quality issues

Update: Despite the confirmation from CRRUA officials that the water in most previously affected areas is now cleared, many residents showed up to get free water at The Sports Complex in Santa Teresa Sunday.

"I don't want to use the water yet because they don't even tell us what the pH level is, or what it was before. And it's just, like, uncertain about how safe it really is," said Crystal, an affected resident.

However, CRRUA's Executive Director, Brent Westmoreland, told ABC-7 Saturday that the pH levels ranged between 8.5 and 10.25. Sunday, he told us the levels in most areas were back down to 7.58, which is what he said the utility company always aims for.

Still, residents like Crystal remain hesitant. That hesitation extends to the Gadsden Independent School District's Superintendent, Travis Dempsey. The district announced Saturday that it would be transitioning some of its schools to remote learning Monday.

"I want to give us a little bit of a time (Monday), just to be sure that we have all that flushed out and we don't, you know, try to rush back into this, and then end up alarming parents, and maybe exposing our kids to something that we just -- we don't want to take that risk," Dempsey said.

ABC-7 asked Westmoreland if the hesitation among some is warranted.

"All I can do is tell them the water is... cleared, tested, and ready to go. If they're still leery, how can I affect any positive change?" he said.

But not all residents are as concerned. Cristina White -- who lives in one of the areas that still does not have safe water as of Sunday -- said she's noticed a difference.

"When the problem started, it was really obvious. And you couldn't -- It felt like lotion, and you couldn't rinse it off. Now it's a lot less. I can definitely tell the difference," she said. "Maybe I'll hold off like a day. But I feel confident that they are doing whatever they can to fix the problem."

Still, Sunland Park's Mayor, Javier Perea, told ABC-7 he feels there are lessons to be learned from the water quality issues many have been facing over the last several days.

"Maybe the implementation of warning systems and things like that is something that maybe CRRUA can look at. But also an improvement in the communication at the senior level, also, can help us also disseminate the information to the areas where CRRUA might have difficulty," he said.

Gadsden ISD has updated its list of campuses that will be transitioning to remote learning on Monday to include La Union Elementary. To view the rest of the affected schools, click here.

Update: CRRUA officials told ABC-7 that all affected neighborhoods are cleared to use tap water, except for Valencia Park and Valle Valencia. They also recommended not to use water in the Santa Teresa Industrial Park area.

Officials said residents living in the two areas that have not yet been cleared, should continue to use bottled water.

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Camino Real Regional Utility Authority has provided an update Sunday morning, advising some subdivisions now have standard pH levels.

According to officials, the following areas are now allowed to consume and use the water in their homes:

• Mason Farms
• The Grove
• Bluffs

The following areas in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, NM should continue to use alternative sources of water until further notice:

• Valencia Park
• Villa Valencia
• Edgemont
• Casas Lindas
• Tuscan Ridge

For a third day, CRRUA customers may pick up bottled water at the following location:

• The Sports Complex – 4700 McNutt Rd., Santa Teresa, NM
  TIME 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions or more information, please call CRRUA at 915-238-8742 or 575-649-9349