Sunland Park residents sue water utility company over alleged safety violations - KFOX El Paso
Sunland Park residents sue water utility company over alleged safety violations
SUNLAND PARK, N. M. (KFOX14) — Around 100 residents in the Sunland Park area have joined a lawsuit against their water utility company.
The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) faces a suit brought by two attorneys who have decried the safety of their water.
At this point, we’re calling on the governor to issue an emergency order and seize operations of CRRUA," attorney Israel Chavez told KFOX14 in an interview. "because what’s clear is CRRUA cannot be trusted to operate.
The lawsuit frames the issue as a violation of CRRUA's customers' rights.
"We’re focusing right now on the civil rights issue," said attorney Jessica Insuriaga. "The failure to notify. These agencies have a fundamental duty to provide safe drinking water, which is very basic."
Chavez is upset that New Mexico authorities, in his opinion, have not done enough for residents.
"What I’ve heard, is that everybody in power says that the water is fine to drink, it’s clean," Chavez said. "And what I would say is I invite the New Mexico Environment Department to bring down their families to Southern New Mexico and we’ll all have a glass of water together. And if they’re willing to do that, then we’ll tell the families in this community it’s safe to drink the water."
In a statement sent to KFOX14, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) said, "This question is best answered by the board that oversees CRRUA. However, knowingly violating federal and state drinking water levels may constitute a criminal violation by the Board and may escalate civil penalties assessed by the New Mexico Environment Department."
The NMED also said Doña Ana County, where CRRUA operates, can declare an emergency on its own.
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