(Santa Fe, NM) –The New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau is lifting the "boil water advisory" for the Mine Shaft Tavern Water System located near Madrid, NM in Santa Fe County.

NMED issued the advisory on July 21, 2014 after bacteriological contamination that exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for E. coli was discovered in drinking water at the water system. The advisory only applied to customers served by the Mine Shaft Tavern Water System and did not extend to any of the other surrounding water systems or communities.

Consumers of water at the Mine Shaft Tavern Water System were advised to boil the water for five minutes before drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing. The presenceof 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 have indicated the presence of dangerous strains of E. coli or other disease-causing organisms. These types of organisms could 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 has provided technical assistance to the water system and subsequent samples collected from the water system were negative for bacteriological contamination. The Mine Shaft Tavern Water System will maintain a regular monitoring schedule to test the distribution system for the presence of Total coliform & E. coli.

For more information, call NMED Communications Director Jim Winchester at (505) 231-8800 or Jeff Pompeo, Drinking Water Bureau Compliance Officer, at (505) 222-9590.