Santa Fe-The New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau has issued a "boil water advisory" for the Las Campanas Water System.

NMED issued the advisory on August 27, 2015 after bacteriological contamination (E. Coli) was detected in repeat drinking water samples from the water system's distribution system. NMED requires the Las Campanas Water System to notify water system consumers of this finding.

Las Campanas Water System is a community public water system that serves approximately 400 people and is located approximately 10 miles west of Santa Fe, NM in Santa Fe County.

This advisory only applies to the drinking water from the Las Campanas Water System, and does not extend to any other surrounding water systems.

Consumers of the Las Campanas Water System are advised to boil the water for five minutes before drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing. The presence of 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 indicate the presence of dangerous strains of E. coli or other disease-causing organisms. These types of organisms may 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 will provide technical assistance to the water system and Las Campanas Water System will continue to test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.

For more information, call Wayne Jeffs, Drinking Water Bureau Compliance Officer, at (505) 476-8612.