On June 27, 2013, EPA Region 6 issued an Administrative Order (AO) under its authority pursuant to by Sections 308 and 309(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to the City of Elephant Butte for violations at its Sierra County Regional wastewater treatment plant located in Truth or Consequences, NM. The AO was issued in response to violations of:
1) permit limit exceedances for pH, Total Suspended Solids, and E. coli;
2) failure to properly calculate reported values for E. coli, Total Suspended Solids, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand; and 3) failure to collect composite samples. The AO requires City of Elephant Butte to
1) certify compliance with pH, Total Suspended Solids, and E. coli permit limits; and 2) provide EPA with a list of all administrative changes/updates to address deficiencies at the facility noted in the AO.