Photo: Dana B. Chase · Public domainLiving in Ojo Caliente, NM: what to set up and who to call
An EPA health-based violation from 2024 is still open for the Ojo Caliente Mdwca water system, and its latest lead result (5.0 ppb) was higher than 90% of similar systems’, though under the 15 ppb action level. Ojo Caliente has no town government of its own, so Rio Arriba County runs its elections and most services, and its children attend Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Ojo Caliente, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Ojo Caliente.
Power comes from Jemez Mountains Elec Coop
Jemez Mountains Elec Coop (Jemez Mountains Elec Coop, Inc), a cooperative utility, serves all of Ojo Caliente. Its homes paid an average of 15.8¢ per kWh in 2025, about $90 a month (its average across New Mexico).
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Ojo Caliente Mdwca water system
The Ojo Caliente Mdwca water system supplies Ojo Caliente: about 87% of residents live in its service area. About 13% of homes are outside any mapped community water system, most likely on private wells, which EPA doesn’t regulate. It draws ground water and serves 226 people in all.
4 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: uranium ×3, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), the latest beginning Oct 2024. 77% of the 15,074 systems serving 101–500 people had none. 1 older violation is still open, since 2024: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), per EPA’s records.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2023–Dec 2025, was 5.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. The highest in five years was 8.0 ppb. That’s higher than 90% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. NM3506621.
3 home internet providers serve Ojo Caliente
86% of 88 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 81% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit Carson Internet | Fiber | 81% | 1,000/1,000 |
| Valor Telecommunications of Texas | DSL | 77% | 200/20 |
| Ethos Broadband | Fixed wireless | 32% | 400/80 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Ojo Caliente’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Ojo Caliente.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Ojo Caliente is in Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools.
Test scores and every school: see Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
No town hall: the county runs things
Ojo Caliente is unincorporated, so Rio Arriba County is the local government.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jul 2021; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026.
Ojo Caliente is in ZIP code 87549
ZIP codes where Ojo Caliente residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Ojo Caliente | ZIP’s residents in Ojo Caliente |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87549 | Ojo Caliente, NM | 100% | 11% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Ojo Caliente
Who supplies Ojo Caliente’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Ojo Caliente Mdwca water system (EPA ID NM3506621). It reported 4 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: uranium ×3, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 77% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 5.0 ppb (Jan 2023–Dec 2025), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Ojo Caliente?
Jemez Mountains Elec Coop (Jemez Mountains Elec Coop, Inc), a cooperative utility. Its homes paid about 15.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Ojo Caliente?
Kit Carson Internet, Valor Telecommunications of Texas, Ethos Broadband (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Ojo Caliente?
87549. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Ojo Caliente in?
Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools.
How do I register to vote in Ojo Caliente?
In New Mexico you can register online until 28 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before). Elections here are run by the Taos County Clerk. Check your registration at voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.