Roswell, New Mexico Water Outage Today
Live Roswell water outage reports, City of Roswell Water’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Roswell, New Mexico in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Roswell?
Drinking water in Roswell, New Mexico is supplied by City of Roswell Water, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in New Mexico are regulated by the New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau.
To report no water or a main break, call City of Roswell Water at 575-347-5421.
Roswell tap water system, by the numbers
The system behind most taps in Roswell is Roswell Municipal Water System, which EPA records list as serving roughly 54,025 people. Customers know it as City of Roswell Water; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Roswell Municipal Water System (NM3520203) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 54,025 through 20,084 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater (wells) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 18 active wells, 18 treatment points, 7 storage tanks and reservoirs, 2 pump facilities |
| State regulator | New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 2 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 2 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in Roswell
Water in Roswell comes out of the ground. Roswell Municipal Water System runs 18 active wells that lift it to the surface for treatment and distribution. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Treatment Plant #10 (Riac #1), Treatment Plant #14 (Trigg #2), and Treatment Plant #15 (Kerr #1). After treatment the water is held in 7 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 2 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. Groundwater only reaches the tap while pump motors are turning, so electricity is the weak point. After a storm or grid failure the first question is which wells have backup generators; City of Roswell Water can tell you whether yours do.
What causes water outages and low pressure in Roswell
Which failures hit Roswell hardest follows from its weather, its housing stock and how it is supplied.
- Freezing weather. Roswell sees about 53 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 2 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 14, 2021. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Summer demand. Roswell has about 72 days a year at or above 95°F and 34 at or above 100°F, and the hottest day in the record came on July 18, 2023. Lawn irrigation and cooling push demand to its yearly high, so pumps run hard, tanks drain faster than they refill and pressure sags on high ground in the evening.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 53.6% of occupied homes in Roswell were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Long dry spells. The longest stretch without measurable rain since 2015 lasted 63 days, ending January 10, 2018. Dry soil shrinks and shifts around buried pipe, and breaks often cluster when the rain returns and the ground swells again.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 43 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Chaves County from 2015 through 2026. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Chaves County number 153 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Xcel Energy run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
Roswell weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Roswell runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 52.7 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 2.2 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 0.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 72.2 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 33.6 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 0.9 |
| Average annual precipitation | 12.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2015 (19 in) |
| Driest year | 2020 (5.4 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 14, 2021 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 18, 2023 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 19.2 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2015 with 19 inches; the driest was 2020 with 5.4. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Roswell boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists 2 health-based violations for Roswell Municipal Water System since 2015. It also lists 3 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- June 2025: Not correcting a significant deficiency on time under the Ground Water Rule
- June 2025: Not correcting a significant deficiency on time under the Ground Water Rule
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Ground water rule | 2 | 1 |
| Chemical and radiological contaminants | 0 | 1 |
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in Roswell is a separate thing from a violation. City of Roswell Water issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead service lines and old plumbing in Roswell
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Roswell Municipal Water System is 0 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 2 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
53.6% of occupied homes in Roswell were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask City of Roswell Water about its lead service line inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Roswell
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Roswell take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | Time window posted ahead; water often returns early |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
City of Roswell Water will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Preparing for a long water outage in Roswell
The average household in Roswell has about 2.7 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 37 gallons for two weeks.
- Heat: 72 days a year top 95°F here, so plan for more than the one-gallon minimum, and keep extra for pets.
- 20.8% of residents report a disability (US 13.3%), so check on neighbors who rely on running water for medical equipment.
- 6% of homes are mobile or manufactured homes, whose pipes are more exposed to freezing and have less room for a water heater tank as backup.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
How Roswell compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roswell, NM | Roswell Municipal Water System | 54,025 | Ground | 2 | 2 |
| Las Cruces, NM | Las Cruces Municipal Water System | 98,175 | Ground | 3 | 3.5 |
| Lubbock, TX | Lubbock Public Water System | 275,041 | Surface | 0 | 3.1 |
| El Paso, TX | El Paso Water Utilities | 747,168 | Surface | 0 | 10 |
| Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque Water System | 560,326 | Surface | 0 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Las Cruces, NM · Lubbock, TX · El Paso, TX · Albuquerque, NM
Where to find official Roswell water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from City of Roswell Water, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Roswell quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Roswell?
City of Roswell Water at 575-347-5421, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is Roswell water from a river, lake or well?
EPA records for Roswell Municipal Water System say Roswell relies on groundwater.
Is Roswell tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists 2 health-based violations for Roswell Municipal Water System since 2015, most recently not correcting a significant deficiency on time under the Ground Water Rule in June 2025, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. After a boil water notice, follow it until the utility lifts it.
What time of year are Roswell water main breaks most common?
Breaks in Roswell pile up in the cold, with about 53 freezing days a year and the worst stretch from December to February. The days right after a deep freeze, when the soil thaws and shifts, are usually the busiest.
What causes low water pressure in Roswell?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand (72 days a year top 95°F here). If the whole street is affected, tell City of Roswell Water; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Roswell?
Usually 24 to 48 hours after pressure is restored. The utility has to collect samples, wait for the lab to confirm there is no bacteria, and then announce the all-clear. City of Roswell Water posts notices and lifts them; the New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau oversees the process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Roswell family need?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Roswell that means about 8 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.7, and 37 gallons for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Roswell water?
It depends on the age of your home. About 53.6% of occupied homes in Roswell were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact City of Roswell Water about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
How do I check for water outages near me in Roswell?
This page shows resident reports from Roswell for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of City of Roswell Water; many utilities also text boil notices.
More outage pages for Roswell and nearby
Other outage types in Roswell
Water Service Outages in cities near Roswell
- Las Cruces, NM 151 mi · Las Cruces Utilities
- Lubbock, TX 154 mi · Lubbock Water Utilities
- El Paso, TX 161 mi · El Paso Water
- Albuquerque, NM 168 mi · Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
- Rio Rancho, NM 176 mi · City of Rio Rancho Utilities
- Santa Fe, NM 178 mi · City of Santa Fe Water Division
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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