Ohkay Owingeh, NM: High Radon Risk — 40/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Water monitoring data from Ohkay Owingeh, NM tells a below-average story — health violations are present and system-level detail is worth reviewing before drawing conclusions.
How Ohkay Owingeh Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Ohkay Owingeh Water
- Homes built before 1986: 61% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.12 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Ohkay Owingeh
Ohkay Owingeh, NM draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 3 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (population ~2,623), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 14,453 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Ohkay Owingeh — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ohkay Owingeh: D (40/100)
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
Ohkay Owingeh water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Ohkay Owingeh
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87566 | D | ALCALDE MDWCA | 927 |
All ZIP Codes in Ohkay Owingeh
- 87566 [D]
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.
Health Outcomes in Ohkay Owingeh
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Ohkay Owingeh
With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Reading the housing age data for Ohkay Owingeh — median build year 1971 — the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints — a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Ohkay Owingeh were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Ohkay Owingeh Homeowners
Low proportionality — that's the Ohkay Owingeh picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Ohkay Owingeh are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 143% above the New Mexico average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Ohkay Owingeh
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Ohkay Owingeh — 61% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Ohkay Owingeh
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- 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 Ohkay Owingeh, NM