Doña Ana County Orders Notice to Terminate Sunland Park JPA as Residents Press CRUAA on Water Safety

Doña Ana County commissioners voted May 13 to give the city of Sunland Park immediate notice of the county’s intent to terminate its joint-powers agreement (JPA) with the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, following public testimony about water quality problems in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa.

Residents and community groups told the commission they have experienced long-running problems with discolored, foul-smelling water and difficulty reaching CRUAA for emergency or routine service. Speakers said a recent lab result from April 23 showed an arsenic measurement of 12 parts per billion — above the U.S. EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 10 ppb — and called for a citizen advisory board controlled by affected communities.

Why it matters: County leaders said the combination of repeated resident complaints, a documented arsenic exceedance, and what speakers described as poor utility responsiveness undermines public trust in CRUAA and prompted the board action. Commissioners said they will notify Sunland Park and continue oversight of water safety matters…