New Mexico Environment Department v. Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA)

Robles, Rael & Anaya, P.C. represented the New Mexico Environment Department in a landmark drinking water enforcement action against the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority arising from years of violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act and New Mexico drinking water regulations. The enforcement action involved five separate Notices of Violation addressing longstanding arsenic exceedances, failures to provide required public notice, and other systemic compliance deficiencies affecting the utility’s drinking water system.

Following negotiations, the parties reached a comprehensive settlement requiring CRRUA to pay $189,000 and implement measures to resolve the outstanding compliance issues. The settlement addressed each of the Department’s enforcement actions while promoting long-term compliance with state and federal drinking water requirements.

The matter represented a significant milestone for environmental enforcement in New Mexico, as it marked the first time the New Mexico Environment Department imposed a bad-faith penalty enhancement against a utility. The settlement further advanced the Department’s mission of protecting public health while ensuring accountability for repeated regulatory violations.