Vanadium in New Mexico Drinking Water
Ranked by max vanadium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR
Vanadium in New Mexico: what the data shows
New Mexico has 19 cities with vanadium data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Vanadium was detected above the 21 µg/L EPA short-term health advisory in 7 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 17.61 µg/L. Vanadium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in the western United States where it leaches from volcanic rock and oil shale formations. Industrial sources include steel manufacturing, oil refining, and fossil fuel combustion. There is no federal MCL for vanadium — the EPA established a short-term health advisory of 21 µg/L for a 10 kg child consuming 1 L/day for 10 days. Long-term exposure to elevated vanadium has been associated with kidney effects in animal studies and possible developmental impacts. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems are effective at removing vanadium from drinking water.
Cities exceeding 21 µg/L EPA short-term HA (no MCL)
Vanadium data across New Mexico
Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 vanadium testing data. Cities where vanadium exceeds the 21 µg/L EPA short-term health advisory are highlighted. Size reflects population served.
Top 10 cities by vanadium level in New Mexico
Highest Vanadium levels (µg/L)
All New Mexico cities ranked by vanadium level
| # | City | Level | Level | Over HA? | Violations | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Rancho | 41.00 µg/L | Over HA | 4 | B+ | |
| 2 | Clovis | 36.80 µg/L | Over HA | 66 | F | |
| 3 | Los Lunas | 35.10 µg/L | Over HA | 77 | F | |
| 4 | Portales | 34.00 µg/L | Over HA | 11 | B- | |
| 5 | Carlsbad | 33.00 µg/L | Over HA | 38 | F | |
| 6 | Hobbs | 32.00 µg/L | Over HA | 24 | F | |
| 7 | Los Alamos | 31.00 µg/L | Over HA | 1 | A | |
| 8 | Deming | 19.00 µg/L | No | 50 | F | |
| 9 | Albuquerque | 14.00 µg/L | No | 232 | F | |
| 10 | Las Cruces | 13.00 µg/L | No | 222 | F | |
| 11 | Santa Fe | 9.20 µg/L | No | 200 | F | |
| 12 | Dona Ana | 9.10 µg/L | No | 21 | F | |
| 13 | Silver City | 6.80 µg/L | No | 40 | F | |
| 14 | Roswell | 5.90 µg/L | No | 14 | D | |
| 15 | Artesia | 5.20 µg/L | No | 75 | F | |
| 16 | Alamogordo | 4.30 µg/L | No | 41 | F | |
| 17 | Las Vegas | 2.30 µg/L | No | 93 | F | |
| 18 | Ranchos De Taos | 2.17 µg/L | No | 98 | F | |
| 19 | Ruidoso | 0.74 µg/L | No | 63 | F |
Frequently asked questions about vanadium in New Mexico
Is vanadium in New Mexico tap water harmful?
Vanadium has no federal MCL. The EPA short-term health advisory is 21 µg/L. 7 cities in New Mexico exceed this level. Long-term exposure has been linked to kidney effects in animal studies. Vanadium is most common in groundwater in the western US.
How can I remove vanadium from my drinking water?
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are highly effective at removing vanadium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems also work. Standard activated carbon filters are not effective against vanadium. If your water comes from a private well in the western US, consider testing for vanadium.