(Santa Fe, NM) -The New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau is lifting the "boil water advisory" for the Las Campanas Water System located in Santa Fe County.

NMED issued the advisory on August 27, 2015 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 Las Campanas Water System and did not extend to any of the other surrounding water systems or communities.

Consumers of water at the Las Campanas Water System were 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 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 New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau provided technical support to the Las Campanas Water System and subsequent samples collected from the water system were negative for bacteriological contamination. The Las Campanas Water System will be required to maintain a regular monitoring schedule to test the distribution system for the presence of Total coliform & E. coli.

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