New Mexico Water Quality — 153 Cities Tested

Analysis

New Mexico water quality overview

New Mexico's drinking water quality is below average overall, with an average score of 58.6 out of 100 across 153 cities tested. The median score is 49.6, serving a total population of 1,858,746 residents. 56% of cities scored a D or F, pointing to significant water quality challenges in parts of the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 53 of 153 cities tested (35%). 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 2 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 133 cities use groundwater while 20 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in New Mexico

53 cities

PFAS Detected

35% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.

2 cities

Lead Exceedances

Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).

147 cities

Health Violations

32,640 total violations recorded, 153 with unresolved issues.

51 cities

Failing Systems

Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.

Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in New Mexico

Lead in New Mexico → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in New Mexico → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in New Mexico → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in New Mexico

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → Perchlorate →

State context

16

Superfund sites in New Mexico

EPA National Priorities List

76.8%

of New Mexico residents on fluoridated water

CDC, 2020

191,175

lbs released to surface water

Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023

24.0%

of New Mexico domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit

USGS, 3,630 samples · 10 µg/L MCL

Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in New Mexico

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 2,265 private wells sampled across New Mexico. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

4.0 µg/L

Median arsenic in domestic wells

P90 18.0 µg/L · max 225.0 µg/L

22 µg/L

Median manganese in domestic wells

25.9% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit

Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in New Mexico

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in New Mexico, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 191,175 lbs

Facility	Top chemical	To surface water (lbs/yr)
US DOD USAF HOLLOMAN AFB Other · US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HOLLOMAN AFB, NM88330	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	189,448
FREEPORT-MCMORAN TYRONE INC. Metal Mining · FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC TYRONE, NM88065	Copper And Copper Compounds	1,580
US DOD USAF KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE Other · US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE KIRTLAND AFB, NM871170001	Lead	82
FOUR CORNERS STEAM ELECTRIC STATION Electric Utilities · PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORP FRUITLAND, NM87416	Zinc compounds	65
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY Other · US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LOS ALAMOS, NM87544	Lead	0

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your New Mexico water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.

Grade Distribution

How New Mexico cities scored

A: 17 B: 32 C: 18 D: 35 F: 51

Best Cities

Worst Cities

City Map

Water quality across New Mexico

Each dot is a city, colored by its water quality grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full water report.

All Cities

153 cities in New Mexico

Full rankings →

#	City	Grade	Score	Population	Violations
1	Bayard	A	93.6	3K	11
2	Santa Ana Pueblo	A	92.6	759	28
3	La Plata	A	91.7	2K	7
4	Kirtland	A	90.5	8K	19
5	Los Alamos	A	90.1	25K	25
6	Ruidoso Downs	A-	89.9	2K	37
7	Isleta	A-	89.2	14K	54
8	Eunice	A-	87.5	4K	20
9	Clayton	A-	87.3	3K	7
10	Dexter	A-	87.2	2K	7
11	Hatch	A-	87.1	2K	13
12	Jemez Pueblo	A-	87	3K	42
13	Espanolal	A-	87	3K	33
14	Rincon	A-	86.4	582	11
15	Socorro	A-	86.2	12K	55
16	Santo Domingo	A-	86.2	5K	94
17	Garfield	A-	85.4	3K	63
18	San Antonio	B+	83.9	1K	15
19	Fairacres	B+	83.9	847	33
20	Rio Rancho	B+	83.8	107K	127
21	Chamisal	B+	83.6	550	30
22	Taos Ski Valley	B+	83.4	1K	28
23	Tatum	B+	83.4	948	24
24	Crownpoint Boarding School	B+	83.3	1K	104
25	Bernalillo	B+	82.3	11K	56
26	Logan	B+	81.9	2K	16
27	White Sands Missile Rang	B+	81.6	4K	104
28	Elephant Butte	B+	81.5	4K	26
29	Milan	B+	81.3	3K	24
30	Chamberino	B+	81.3	777	3
31	San Felipe Pueblo	B+	81.2	8K	85
32	Cochiti	B+	81	2K	31
33	Acoma	B+	80.9	2K	61
34	Arenas Valley	B+	80.6	1K	16
35	Zia Pueblo	B+	80	771	41
36	Ponderosa	B	79.7	567	74
37	Melrose	B	78	1K	29
38	Red River	B	77	679	22
39	Capitan	B	75.8	2K	29
40	Grants	B	75.3	11K	25
41	Radium Springs	B-	74.9	831	12
42	Portales	B-	74.2	18K	44
43	Dulce	B-	73.3	3K	157
44	Texico	B-	73.1	1K	23
45	Polvadera	B-	71.9	2K	210
46	La Luz	B-	71.6	2K	67
47	Hurley	B-	71.1	2K	145
48	San Miguel	B-	70.5	695	83
49	Gamerco	B-	70.2	2K	77
50	Mora	C+	69.6	1K	40
51	Velarde	C+	69.2	543	38
52	Eagle Nest	C+	68.9	613	18
53	Holloman Air Force Base	C+	68.8	13K	135
54	Mesilla	C+	68.6	2K	47
55	Central	C+	67.7	2K	53
56	El Rito	C+	67.6	2K	121
57	Penasco	C+	67.6	891	86
58	Chamita	C+	65.1	902	57
59	Ramah	C+	65.1	517	108
60	Jal	C+	65	6K	67
61	Organ	C	63.8	20K	91
62	Cannon Afb	C	63	8K	149
63	Blanco	C	62.7	1K	116
64	Malaga	C	62.1	868	41
65	Thoreau	C	61.9	2K	62
66	Chaparral	C-	58.6	16K	80
67	Reserve	C-	58.4	816	40
68	Tucumcari	D+	54.5	7K	52
69	Tohatchi	D+	54.5	588	498
70	Tyrone	D+	52.1	782	118
71	Dixon	D+	51.5	788	120
72	Fort Sumner	D+	51.3	2K	134
73	Hernandez	D+	50.9	2K	152
74	Thoreau High School Compound	D+	50.2	746	43
75	Canoncito	D+	50	1K	513
76	Vaughn	D+	50	785	263
77	Magdalena	D	49.6	1K	43
78	Bosque Farms	D	49.2	4K	231
79	Kayenta	D	49.1	1K	125
80	Cimarron	D	49	3K	271
81	Alamo	D	49	785	520
82	Mountainair	D	47.8	2K	207
83	Chimayo	D	47.8	1K	87
84	Lovington	D	47.2	14K	299
85	Placitas	D	47.2	3K	1613
86	Mayhill	D	47	2K	285
87	Carrizozo	D	47	2K	109
88	Cedar Crest	D	47	733	397
89	Abiquiu	D	47	517	387
90	Bloomfield	D	46.8	19K	282
91	Truth Or Consequences	D	46.2	7K	289
92	High Rolls	D	46.1	684	158
93	Chama	D	46	2K	169
94	Roswell	D	45.8	59K	87
95	Angel Fire	D	45.2	6K	206
96	Cloudcroft	D	45	4K	392
97	Lordsburg	D	45	3K	511
98	Glorieta	D	45	3K	170
99	Santa Rosa	D	45	3K	76
100	Pecos	D	45	3K	333
101	El Prado	D	45	1K	159
102	Tierra Amarilla	D	45	770	131
103	Raton	F	44.9	10K	92
104	Artesia	F	44.8	19K	230
105	Aztec	F	44.8	15K	194
106	Deming	F	44.5	17K	219
107	Espanola	F	44.2	12K	771
108	Anthony	F	44.2	11K	173
109	Belen	F	44.2	11K	621
110	Taos	F	44.2	6K	466
111	Tularosa	F	44.2	3K	243
112	Navajo Dam	F	44	545	464
113	Carlsbad	F	43.5	39K	169
114	Los Lunas	F	43.5	20K	1465
115	Sunland Park	F	43.5	19K	209
116	Springer	F	43.2	1K	284
117	Silver City	F	43	15K	138
118	Timberon	F	43	3K	82
119	Cerrillos	F	43	776	116
120	Holman	F	43	602	587
121	Rociada	F	43	500	109
122	Jemez Springs	F	42.5	2K	354
123	Edgewood	F	42.2	7K	101
124	Moriarty	F	42.2	3K	807
125	Questa	F	42	2K	164
126	Loving	F	42	2K	62
127	Ranchos De Taos	F	42	2K	227
128	Estancia	F	42	1K	91
129	San Rafael	F	42	1K	146
130	Pena Blanca	F	42	854	165
131	Regina	F	42	705	111
132	Truchas	F	42	629	66
133	Cleveland	F	42	621	145
134	Las Vegas	F	41.5	15K	376
135	Ruidoso	F	41.1	16K	389
136	Hagerman	F	41	2K	166
137	Quemado	F	41	879	176
138	Laguna	F	40.8	6K	309
139	Clovis	F	40.6	42K	401
140	Dona Ana	F	40.5	17K	82
141	Farmington	F	40.4	48K	263
142	Albuquerque	F	40.2	628K	3147
143	Las Cruces	F	40.1	134K	861
144	Alamogordo	F	38.9	846	247
145	Cuba	F	38	2K	156
146	Alcalde	F	38	927	168
147	Mimbres	F	38	610	56
148	Alto	F	37.2	5K	376
149	Santa Fe	F	35.7	117K	1429
150	Hobbs	F	34.5	41K	192
151	Tijeras	F	33	2K	920
152	Gallup	F	31.9	22K	396
153	Ramah, Pinehill	F	27.1	1K	333

Counties

Browse New Mexico counties

Bernalillo 3 cities · avg 40.1 Catron 2 cities · avg 49.7 Chaves 3 cities · avg 58 Cibola 3 cities · avg 66.2 Colfax 5 cities · avg 50.2 Curry 4 cities · avg 63.7 De Baca 1 city · avg 51.3 Dona Ana 15 cities · avg 67.4 Eddy 4 cities · avg 48.1 Grant 7 cities · avg 63.7 Guadalupe 2 cities · avg 47.5 Hidalgo 1 city · avg 45 Lea 5 cities · avg 63.5 Lincoln 5 cities · avg 58.2 Los Alamos 1 city · avg 90.1 Luna 1 city · avg 44.5 Mckinley 4 cities · avg 57.3 Mora 3 cities · avg 51.5 Otero 8 cities · avg 50.6 Quay 2 cities · avg 68.2 Rio Arriba 12 cities · avg 51.2 Roosevelt 1 city · avg 74.2 San Juan 7 cities · avg 60.1 San Miguel 3 cities · avg 43.2 Sandoval 8 cities · avg 57.2 Santa Fe 4 cities · avg 41.5 Sierra 2 cities · avg 63.9 Socorro 4 cities · avg 72.9 Taos 8 cities · avg 60.6 Torrance 3 cities · avg 44 Union 1 city · avg 87.3 Valencia 4 cities · avg 44.4

ZIP Codes

Browse New Mexico by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all New Mexico ZIP codes →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about New Mexico's water

Is New Mexico's tap water safe to drink?

New Mexico's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is C- (58.6/100). 32% of cities scored an A or B, while 56% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which New Mexico cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Bayard (A), Santa Ana Pueblo (A), La Plata (A). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which New Mexico cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are Ramah, Pinehill (F), Gallup (F), Tijeras (F). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many New Mexico cities have PFAS in their water?

53 out of 153 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (35%). 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Do any New Mexico cities have dangerous lead levels?

2 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

New Mexico Water Quality Report