Albuquerque, NM: 559 Health Violations — 38/100 (2026)
43 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Albuquerque, EPA compliance records fall well below NM averages — documented health-based violations affect multiple service areas, and the city's sustained low grade reflects a persistent pattern across reporting cycles.
How Albuquerque Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Albuquerque, NM
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 9460 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,553 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.96.
Water Systems Serving Albuquerque
With 3 utilities splitting service in Albuquerque, NM, water accountability is distributed across 6 systems on the federal record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 43 ZIP codes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 652,362 people.
43 of 43 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 559 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Albuquerque: F (38/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Albuquerque water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 42 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 3388 | 43 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 3344 | 43 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 616 | 43 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 616 | 43 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 484 | 43 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87101 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87102 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87103 | F | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87104 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87105 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87106 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87107 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87108 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87109 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
| 87110 | D | 220 | 13 | Albuquerque Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Albuquerque
- 87101 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87102 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87103 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87104 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87105 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87106 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87107 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87108 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87109 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87110 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87111 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87112 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87113 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87114 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87115 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87116 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87119 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87120 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87121 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87122 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87123 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87125 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87131 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87151 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87153 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87154 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87158 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87165 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87176 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87181 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87184 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87185 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87187 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87190 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87191 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87192 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87193 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87194 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87195 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87196 [D] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87197 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87198 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
- 87199 [F] — 220 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Albuquerque
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Albuquerque
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Albuquerque: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Equity impact data for Albuquerque lands in the favorable tier — remediation claims a small slice of what properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Albuquerque are relatively low compared to home values. The $673–$3,116 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 37% above the New Mexico average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Albuquerque
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Albuquerque appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Albuquerque
The NFIP claim record for Albuquerque — 170 filed incidents — reflects genuine, recurring flood exposure rather than an isolated event or two. When a community accumulates flood claims at this volume and carries 37% of its ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated zones, flood history starts to factor into water quality planning in ways it doesn't for lower-exposure areas. Flooding introduces specific contamination pathways — runoff overwhelming treatment facility intake, surface water infiltrating private wells, and pressure disruptions in distribution systems allowing backflow — all of which become more relevant as flood frequency increases.
Albuquerque has a moderate flood history with 170 FEMA claims averaging $6,918 per payout. 37% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,553</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Albuquerque
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Albuquerque's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Albuquerque, NM