New Mexico Water Quality — 163 Cities Tested

Analysis

New Mexico water quality overview

New Mexico's drinking water quality is below average overall, with an average score of 58.3 out of 100 across 163 cities tested. The median score is 50, serving a total population of 1,959,992 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 54 of 163 cities tested (33%). 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 3 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: 142 cities use groundwater while 21 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in New Mexico

54 cities

PFAS Detected

33% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.

3 cities

Lead Exceedances

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

157 cities

Health Violations

34,220 total violations recorded, 163 with unresolved issues.

55 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: 34 C: 20 D: 37 F: 55

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

163 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	944	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	Mesilla Park	B+	80.5	549	39
36	Zia Pueblo	B+	80	771	41
37	Ponderosa	B	79.7	567	74
38	Melrose	B	78	1K	29
39	Red River	B	77	679	22
40	Capitan	B	75.8	2K	29
41	Grants	B	75.3	11K	25
42	Radium Springs	B-	74.9	831	12
43	Portales	B-	74.2	18K	44
44	Dulce	B-	73.3	3K	157
45	Texico	B-	73.1	1K	23
46	Polvadera	B-	71.9	2K	210
47	La Luz	B-	71.6	2K	67
48	Hurley	B-	71.1	3K	145
49	Vado	B-	71	12K	88
50	San Miguel	B-	70.5	774	83
51	Gamerco	B-	70.2	2K	77
52	Mora	C+	69.6	1K	40
53	Velarde	C+	69.2	543	38
54	Eagle Nest	C+	68.9	613	18
55	Holloman Air Force Base	C+	68.8	13K	135
56	Mesilla	C+	68.6	2K	47
57	Central	C+	67.7	2K	53
58	El Rito	C+	67.6	2K	121
59	Penasco	C+	67.6	891	86
60	Arroyo Seco	C+	66.8	676	118
61	Chamita	C+	65.1	902	57
62	Ramah	C+	65.1	517	108
63	Jal	C+	65	6K	67
64	Organ	C	63.8	22K	91
65	Cannon Afb	C	63	8K	149
66	Blanco	C	62.7	1K	116
67	Malaga	C	62.1	868	41
68	Thoreau	C	61.9	2K	62
69	Chaparral	C-	58.6	16K	80
70	Reserve	C-	58.4	816	40
71	Bluewater	C-	57	627	143
72	Tucumcari	D+	54.5	7K	52
73	Tohatchi	D+	54.5	588	498
74	Tyrone	D+	52.1	852	118
75	Canon	D+	52.1	520	127
76	Ilfeld	D+	51.7	736	113
77	Dixon	D+	51.5	788	120
78	Fort Sumner	D+	51.3	2K	134
79	Hernandez	D+	50.9	2K	152
80	Thoreau High School Compound	D+	50.2	746	43
81	Canoncito	D+	50	1K	513
82	Vaughn	D+	50	785	263
83	Magdalena	D	49.6	1K	43
84	Bosque Farms	D	49.2	4K	231
85	Kayenta	D	49.1	1K	125
86	Cimarron	D	49	3K	271
87	Alamo	D	49	785	520
88	Mountainair	D	47.8	2K	207
89	Chimayo	D	47.8	1K	87
90	Lovington	D	47.2	14K	299
91	Placitas	D	47.2	4K	1613
92	Cedar Crest	D	47	2K	397
93	Mayhill	D	47	2K	285
94	Carrizozo	D	47	2K	109
95	Abiquiu	D	47	547	387
96	Bloomfield	D	46.8	19K	282
97	Truth Or Consequences	D	46.2	7K	289
98	High Rolls	D	46.1	684	158
99	Chama	D	46	2K	169
100	Roswell	D	45.8	59K	87
101	Angel Fire	D	45.2	6K	206
102	Cloudcroft	D	45	4K	392
103	Lordsburg	D	45	4K	511
104	Glorieta	D	45	3K	170
105	Santa Rosa	D	45	3K	76
106	Pecos	D	45	3K	333
107	El Prado	D	45	1K	159
108	Tierra Amarilla	D	45	770	131
109	Raton	F	44.9	10K	92
110	Artesia	F	44.8	19K	230
111	Aztec	F	44.8	15K	194
112	Deming	F	44.5	17K	219
113	Belen	F	44.2	16K	621
114	Espanola	F	44.2	13K	771
115	Anthony	F	44.2	11K	173
116	Taos	F	44.2	7K	466
117	Tularosa	F	44.2	3K	243
118	Navajo Dam	F	44	589	464
119	Carlsbad	F	43.5	39K	169
120	Los Lunas	F	43.5	29K	1465
121	Sunland Park	F	43.5	19K	209
122	Springer	F	43.2	1K	284
123	Silver City	F	43	15K	138
124	Timberon	F	43	3K	82
125	Cerrillos	F	43	776	116
126	San Ysidro	F	43	654	359
127	Holman	F	43	602	587
128	Rociada	F	43	500	109
129	Jemez Springs	F	42.5	2K	354
130	Edgewood	F	42.2	15K	101
131	Moriarty	F	42.2	5K	807
132	Questa	F	42	2K	164
133	Loving	F	42	2K	62
134	Ranchos De Taos	F	42	2K	227
135	Estancia	F	42	1K	91
136	San Rafael	F	42	1K	146
137	Pena Blanca	F	42	854	165
138	Regina	F	42	705	111
139	Truchas	F	42	629	66
140	Cleveland	F	42	621	145
141	Las Vegas	F	41.5	15K	376
142	Ruidoso	F	41.1	16K	389
143	Hagerman	F	41	2K	166
144	Quemado	F	41	879	176
145	Tesuque	F	41	651	314
146	Laguna	F	40.8	6K	309
147	Clovis	F	40.6	42K	401
148	Dona Ana	F	40.5	17K	82
149	Farmington	F	40.4	57K	263
150	Albuquerque	F	40.2	629K	3147
151	Las Cruces	F	40.1	134K	861
152	Cuba	F	38	2K	156
153	Alcalde	F	38	1K	168
154	Mimbres	F	38	610	56
155	Alamogordo	F	37.9	37K	247
156	Alto	F	37.2	5K	376
157	Arroyo Hondo	F	37	694	190
158	Santa Fe	F	35.7	118K	1429
159	Hobbs	F	34.5	41K	192
160	Tijeras	F	33	2K	920
161	Gallup	F	31.9	22K	396
162	Maxwell	F	31	601	89
163	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 4 cities · avg 63.9 Colfax 6 cities · avg 47 Curry 4 cities · avg 63.7 De Baca 1 city · avg 51.3 Dona Ana 17 cities · avg 68.3 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 50.5 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 4 cities · avg 45.3 Sandoval 10 cities · avg 55.3 Santa Fe 5 cities · avg 41.4 Sierra 2 cities · avg 63.9 Socorro 4 cities · avg 72.9 Taos 10 cities · avg 58.9 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- (58.3/100). 31% 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), Maxwell (F), Gallup (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?

54 out of 163 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (33%). 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?

3 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