CRRUA clarifies ‘misrepresented' water quality claims
CRRUA says it is now nearly 95% compliant in addressing state inspection
This comes after the Empowerment Congress held a community rally on Monday evening, May 5, in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to 'demand safe drinking water for all CRRUA customers and consumers,' according to a news release sent by the organization.
As we previously reported, CRRUA, which provides water and wastewater service to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, has been under fire for over a year over concerns about water quality and discolored water.
Law firms discuss CRRUA's lawsuit in town hall meeting
According to the news release by Empowerment Congress, community members and advocates demanded the following from CRRUA to address the historical and ongoing public water crisis:
Demand 1: Preventative measures : CRRUA must establish preventative and protective measures when an incident occurs that impacts water quality.
Demand 2: Arsenic test strips : CRRUA must provide arsenic testing strips to all households, allowing residents to independently verify the safety of their water. These strips should be mailed directly to each home serviced by CRRUA.
Demand 3: Clean water supply : CRRUA must supply clean third-party water to residents for a minimum of six months to compensate for the contaminated water previously supplied, as well as during events and incidents where residents' water quality is impacted.
Demand 4: Rate increase moratorium : CRRUA must place a freeze on water rate increases for the next four years. This moratorium is crucial to relieve the financial burden on residents paying for unsafe water they cannot use and the cost of buying water which is safe for them to use.
Demand 5: Accessible public meetings: CRRUA must change the time of the regularly scheduled CRRUA Board meetings to 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, so as to ensure these meetings remain open and accessible to community members.
Consequently, the utility responded to these claims, saying its water is safe to consume, and that it's compliant with New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe drinking water standards.
CRRUA says it's passed latest round of arsenic tests
Further addressing this issue, CRRUA sent the following statements responding to every demand, according to the news release.
Demand 1 response: CRRUA conducts daily monitoring and regularly scheduled testing. If a change in treatment is needed, the adjustment is made quickly following protocols and procedures initiated by CRRUA in partnership with NMED, with follow-up monitoring and testing at an NMED-certified laboratory.
Demand 2, 3, and 4 responses: Under state law, CRRUA is unable to either provide arsenic testing strips or third-party water to residents. Doing so would result in a violation of Article IX, Section 14 of the New Mexico Constitution, otherwise referred to as the 'Anti-Donation Clause.' This constitutional provision prohibits public entities from making donations using public funds to any person, association, or public or private corporation, either directly or indirectly, with limited exceptions. CRRUA has been informed that none of the exceptions to the Anti-Donation Clause apply to providing arsenic test strips or third-party water to residents.
Also, test strips contain hazardous materials that require proper handling. They are not intended for public use. For accurate results, NMED requires designated sample points where water samples must be collected for testing purposes.
In addition, CRRUA's water quality is compliant with NMED testing for arsenic at all four arsenic treatment facilities, and CRRUA has passed 22 arsenic tests since January 2024, including NMED's quarterly tests. CRRUA makes all test results available to the public via the CRRUA website, Facebook page, and through local news media.
As such, CRRUA provides safe water to its customers as certified by both NMED and NMED-certified laboratories. Water quality information is available in the 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, released in June 2024.
Demand 5 response: Conducting morning meetings is a standard practice for government agencies and a cost-effective way of maximizing limited staff availability and resources, especially for the size of the CRRUA organization. CRRUA board meetings are available on Zoom and provide a convenient way for participants to address the board without having to physically attend meetings.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
RTA officials agree to transfer $74M from Metra, Pace to CTA to help delay city service cuts
Regional transportation officials agreed Thursday to transfer $74 million from Pace and Metra to the CTA in an effort to delay catastrophic transit cuts in Chicago next year. After an at-times lively discussion, Regional Transportation Authority board members unanimously approved the measure, which is a bid to buy more time as they hope state lawmakers will pass long-term funding for public transit during a legislative veto session in October. The Chicago region's transit agencies are facing a budget shortfall in the hundreds of millions next year as federal pandemic aid runs out. If lawmakers — who failed to pass transit funding during their spring legislative session — don't come to their rescue, the CTA, Metra and Pace will be forced to cut service up to 40%. But the CTA was expected to run out of federal dollars first, months before Metra and Pace. The decision to shift funds around means the CTA is now expected to hit its fiscal cliff in the middle of 2026. Metra is expected to hit its cliff mid-to-late 2026, with Pace's cliff not expected until 2027, according to the RTA. The $74 million shifted from Metra and Pace to the CTA represents only a small fraction — around 1.7% — of the region's budget, said RTA spokesperson Tina Fassett Smith. Most of the public funding for the CTA, Metra and Pace is locked up in a formula dictated by state law, meaning the RTA cannot choose how to divvy it up. Now, the CTA will receive all of the RTA's discretionary funding in 2026, and Metra and Pace will receive none. But the latter two agencies are still expected to see small increases in funding compared to what they were previously projected to receive next year. That's because the RTA expects to have an extra $10 million to $20 million in sales tax on hand each month because of an expansion of that tax to include more online transactions. Also Thursday, board members agreed to use $8.3 million in reserves and $34 million in this year's discretionary funds — including money that otherwise would have gone to the CTA and Metra — to help bail out the region's paratransit program, which is run by Pace. Both measures passed unanimously after board members agreed to vote on them together, tying the passage of one to the passage of the other. Paratransit costs have spiraled out of control since the introduction of a massively popular ride-share program — which allows riders with disabilities to call subsidized Ubers in lieu of traditional paratransit vehicles — last year. The program is at risk of ending the year more than $50 million over budget without further action, including program cuts slated to start this fall. Disability advocates rallied against those cuts ahead of Thursday's meeting and lined up to speak en masse during the public comment portion of the meeting. Advocates say the ride-share program has been revolutionary for people with disabilities, in large part because it allows ADA-certified riders to call rides on demand. The traditional paratransit program requires riders to call reservations in a day in advance, and some riders complain that it can be unreliable. The ride-share program, which has also drawn the ire of organized labor, is cheaper to operate per ride than traditional paratransit service. But it has proven so popular that Pace — which operates federally-mandated paratransit for the entire region — has seen costs balloon nonetheless. The RTA board approved proposed guardrails on the ride-share program — including a cap of 30 subsidized rides per month and modest fare increases — in June. After hearing from riders Thursday, some board members expressed interest in modifying the proposed cap, though that measure was not up for a vote. Currently, riders are allowed up to eight subsidized rides per day. Only 5% of paratransit riders would be impacted by the proposed 30-ride-per-month cap, the RTA has said. 'The RTA has directed Pace to implement a fare increase and a 30-ride-per-month cap for the TAP/RAP program,' Pace said in a statement Thursday. 'We are working with the RTA to explore whether modifications to these planned programmatic changes can be made in response to public input and concerns expressed by both agencies' Boards.' 'Our goal is to maintain as much service as possible with whatever funding is made available by the RTA,' Pace said. Earlier this week, Pace's executive director, Melinda Metzger, had expressed some concern about the transfer of discretionary funds to the CTA, warning this week that 'shifting resources away from suburban service will have real impacts on our riders.' On Thursday, Pace said it was 'pleased a temporary solution is in place.' 'We hope that with future funding, these resources will return to Pace so we can continue to support economic growth in the suburbs and strengthen service,' the agency said. Metra had indicated earlier this week that it was on board with the proposal, saying, as did the CTA, that it was hopeful for legislation that would avert the fiscal cliff. On Thursday, board members acknowledged that they were picking from a menu of bad options, with more than one saying they were agreeing to move the measures forward reluctantly. 'This is, again, another clear indication we're getting closer to the cliff, and we've got a lot of choices that are bad and worse,' said Tom Kotarac, one of Chicago's representatives on the board. 'None of this is good,' he added.
New York Post
13-08-2025
- New York Post
DOT chief Sean Duffy charges predecessor Pete Buttgieig lowered standards for air traffic controllers in bombshell claim during ‘Pod Force One' appearance
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy charged on the latest episode of 'Pod Force One' that his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, lowered the requirements to be considered a 'well-qualified' air traffic control candidate, leading to spiking dropout rates at the Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City. Officially, candidates who score above 85% on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam are considered 'well-qualified' — or 'best-qualified' with a score of 90% or higher — and prime choices to be FAA-certified controllers. However, under Buttigieg, Duffy told The Post's Miranda Devine, 'they lowered the standard from 85% to 80% to be best qualified … to get these young people into the academy. Advertisement 4 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told 'Pod Force One' that his predecessor Pete Buttigieg lowered the requirements for air traffic controllers. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington. Subscribe here! 'Well, what happened was, they had a substantial washout rate, 30%-plus,' Duffy went on, 'because they couldn't do the work.' Advertisement 'And then it took so long, if they go — if, Miranda, you take the test, you pass it, you got an 82%, it might take you two years to get your seat in the academy,' the secretary continued. 'Well, if you're 22 years old, you're gonna go find a different job. You're not gonna stick around.' A spokesperson for Buttigieg told The Post on Tuesday when asked for comment on Duffy's claims: 'If he had any proof to back up what he said, it seems like they'd provide it.' 4 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy knocked his predecessor over air traffic controller training standards. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post Buttigieg himself has also vehemently denied lowering the standards to become a certified air traffic controller. Advertisement 'To be abundantly clear: we did not change the rigorous standard for becoming a certified air traffic controller,' Buttigieg wrote on X on Feb. 2. 'Those claiming otherwise are mistaken or lying. We did increase funding & training, and grew the ATC workforce after years of declining numbers, including under Trump.' Reps for the FAA and Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 4 Buttigieg has denied lowering the 'rigorous' standards for becoming an air traffic controller. Denver Post via Getty Images Advertisement Duffy acknowledged to Devine that while the ATSA exam is 'the best indicator' known for determining who may be up for the job of directing the nation's air traffic, 'they haven't really figured out the best test to do this.' 'It's a tough job,' the DOT chief said. 'And by the way, it's really hard to figure out who's going to be good at it. You could get a baker and a candlestick maker that are great at it, and someone else with a math degree that just doesn't figure it out.' Earlier this year, Duffy moved to aggressively ramp up recruitment of air traffic controllers to address workforce shortages that have dogged the agency for nearly three decades. 4 Sean Duffy is hoping to significantly expand the workforce of air traffic controllers, who tend to have a high burnout rate. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post The issue made national headlines after 67 people were killed Jan. 29 in a midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional jet over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Full episode Advertisement 'We're getting kids, young people, into the academy much faster,' Duffy said. 'So in two months after you take the entrance exam, we're getting you into the academy. And what we're doing is, if you're at 98% on that test [or] 94 [%], you are going to take the top slots as slots become available. So we're getting the best scores in the academy first. And what we've done with that is we've lowered the washout rate, which means we can get more young people into towers.' The secretary added that academy graduates could be fully certified in as little as one year 'if they're in a not-so-busy airspace,' and stressed that 'it's going to take us time to see the fruits of our hard labor right now, but we're well on our way to filling the gaps in air traffic control.' The FAA has said that its goal is to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by the end of 2028.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Trump's 50% Copper Tariffs Jolt US Market as Buyers Slash Imports and Delay Orders
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump's moves to slap tariffs on US copper imports set off a global race for traders to rush cargoes into the country for much of the year. Now that the 50% levy is just weeks away, there are already signs that demand for the metal is drying up from Texas to New Jersey. Advocates Fear US Agents Are Using 'Wellness Checks' on Children as a Prelude to Arrests The Dutch Intersection Is Coming to Save Your Life LA Homelessness Drops for Second Year Sam Desai is vice president at RM-Metals, a distributor in the Garden State that brings in copper from abroad and sells it to domestic users like appliance makers. US prices had already been trading higher than global benchmarks for most of the year as the market anticipated tariffs. But 50% is higher than what Desai expected, forcing RM-Metals to immediately reduce the amount of copper it imports. 'We made about a 25% reduction' from previous buying levels once the news broke, he said, adding that the company also canceled pre-existing orders when possible. For the shipments that weren't canceled, Desai predicts they will largely end up sitting in stockpiles because customers are 'leery' about buying products now. 'The customers don't want to pay the duty on it — it's too high,' he said. 'We're going to hold it, and then see what happens in a couple months.' The comments from US metals distributors offer an early sign of how Trump's proposed copper tariff — which came in much higher than initially anticipated — is already filtering through the industrial supply chain, potentially eroding demand for the metal that's used in construction and manufacturing. The tariffs are scheduled to start Aug. 1, though American factories have already been paying more for the metal. For months, New York futures — the domestic benchmark — have traded at premiums to London prices. Comex copper prices have risen 38% this year, compared to the 10% gain on the London Metal Exchange. The dislocations have significant impact because copper finds its way into almost every part of the economy, from housing and telecommunications wires to appliances and computer chips. In the US, copper buyers now have the option to draw from stockpiles built up from earlier this year, rather than place new orders with distributors like RM-Metals. Inventories in Comex-certified warehouses have swelled to a seven-year high as metals traders rushed in shipments to take advantage of arbitrage opportunities. There are also plenty of unknowns when it comes to the tariffs. There is a lack of official details on what products will be covered, whether there will be any exemptions and how they will be enforced. The uncertainty prompted Aviva Metals, which says it's the largest US manufacturer and distributor of copper alloys, to put some of its transactions on hold, said Roger Deines, the company's purchasing manager who's based in Houston. 'Does it affect copper, does it affect brass, does it affect bronze? Does it affect everything with copper in it, or is it just pure copper or copper cathodes? Really nothing is defined,' Deines said. 'We can't make any real business decisions until it's all defined.' Charles Bareijsza, the chief executive officer at Metals Associates in New Jersey, started working the phones after news broke on the tariff. 'I called our largest customer, and I said to them, 'Be prepared, there's going to be some problems with the copper pricing,' he said, referring to the rising cost of imports. 'Unfortunately, we have to pass the increase to the customers, and we have no idea how they're going to handle it,' Bareijsza said. 'For us, it's a very confusing time.' Copper is valued in power infrastructure for its conductivity — making it key for both the energy transition and the data center boom. Trump's plan for tariffs is a bid to support the development of a more robust domestic supply chain. Now that the US is awash with inventories, that's providing a buffer for manufacturers and time for the domestic copper industry to ramp up. But it's unclear how quickly investments into the US industry will start flowing and how significant they will be. Some industry experts have expressed concern that inflation will rise in the meantime, which would put pressure on the US to backtrack on the levies. That scenario is adding to the uncertainty for RM-Metals, Desai said. 'The biggest worry customers have is that, let's say it's 50% today and tomorrow drops to 40% or 30%, who's going to cover the cost of the drop?' he said. 'Customers are very leery about ordering for the future.' (Adds copper performance in sixth paragraph.) Thailand's Changing Cannabis Rules Leave Farmers in a Tough Spot The New Third Rail in Silicon Valley: Investing in Chinese AI 'The Turbulence Is Brutal': Four Shark Tank Businesses on Tariffs How Hims Became the King of Knockoff Weight-Loss Drugs Will Trade War Make South India the Next Manufacturing Hub? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
