Water Quality in Albuquerque, NM: 135 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
13 water systems · 18 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 135 violations across 18 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Albuquerque. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Albuquerque
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87121 | 111 | 16 | View report → |
| 87122 | 11 | 3 | View report → |
| 87102 | 9 | 1 | View report → |
| 87106 | 9 | 1 | View report → |
| 87108 | 3 | 0 | View report → |
| 87123 | 3 | 0 | View report → |
| 87111 | 2 | 1 | View report → |
| 87113 | 2 | 1 | View report → |
| 87114 | 1 | 1 | View report → |
| 87101 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 87104 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 87105 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 87107 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 87109 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 87110 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Albuquerque, New Mexico has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 18 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 135 violations, including 21 health-based violations across 18 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Albuquerque is 0.0001 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 18 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 57% of homes built before 1986, Albuquerque has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Albuquerque
Albuquerque is served by 13 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 652,362 people live in the area (43 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Albuquerque. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Albuquerque
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Albuquerque Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Albuquerque's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 51 | 4 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | N/A | 22 | 2 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | N/A | 18 | 6 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 8 | 4 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | 7 | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 3 | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 3 | 3 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | N/A | 2 | 2 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Albuquerque (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Health-based violations have decreased from 9 in 2024 to 2 in 2026, indicating improving compliance.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Albuquerque. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-03-24 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-03-23 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-03-06 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-24 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-24 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-09 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-09 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-03 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-03 | State Informal Enforcement |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-24.
Albuquerque vs. Nearby New Mexico Cities
How Albuquerque's water quality compares to similar cities in New Mexico:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | 18 | 135 | 13 | 652,362 |
| Las Cruces | 6 | 49 | 13 | 157,191 |
| Santa Fe | 5 | 99 | 13 | 133,507 |
| Rio Rancho | 2 | 7 | 2 | 108,378 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Albuquerque
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Albuquerque's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 87121 | 111 | 16 |
| 87122 | 11 | 3 |
| 87102 | 9 | 1 |
| 87106 | 9 | 1 |
| 87108 | 3 | 0 |
| 87123 | 3 | 0 |
| 87111 | 2 | 1 |
| 87113 | 2 | 1 |
| 87114 | 1 | 1 |
| 87101 | 0 | 0 |
| 87104 | 0 | 0 |
| 87105 | 0 | 0 |
| 87107 | 0 | 0 |
| 87109 | 0 | 0 |
| 87110 | 0 | 0 |
Common Questions About Albuquerque Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
Is Albuquerque water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Albuquerque's 13 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Albuquerque tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 21 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Albuquerque? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Albuquerque vs. New Mexico Average
Understanding how Albuquerque compares to the broader New Mexico average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Albuquerque.
ZIP Codes in Albuquerque
Albuquerque spans 43 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 18 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
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
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.