Worst Infrastructure: New Mexico

Out of 427 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in New Mexico, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	427
Highest risk	68%
Median risk	39%
Average risk	39%
State	New Mexico

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	87729	Miami	NM	68%	Very High	33/100
2	87731	Montezuma	NM	68%	Very High	53/100
3	87518	Cebolla	NM	64%	Very High	35/100
4	87747	Springer	NM	61%	Very High	33/100
5	88421	Garita	NM	61%	Very High	40/100
6	87581	Vallecitos	NM	58%	High	29/100
7	87714	Cimarron	NM	58%	High	33/100
8	88009	Playas	NM	58%	High	53/100
9	88136	Yeso	NM	56%	High	53/100
10	87022	Isleta	NM	55%	High	53/100
11	87023	Jarales	NM	55%	High	63/100
12	87053	San Ysidro	NM	55%	High	50/100
13	87419	Navajo Dam	NM	55%	High	25/100
14	87582	Velarde	NM	55%	High	69/100
15	87736	Rainsville	NM	55%	High	68/100
16	88134	Taiban	NM	55%	High	53/100
17	88353	Vaughn	NM	55%	High	78/100
18	87521	Chamisal	NM	54%	High	55/100
19	87901	Truth Or Consequences	NM	54%	High	58/100
20	88045	Lordsburg	NM	54%	High	58/100
21	88301	Carrizozo	NM	54%	High	73/100
22	87531	Embudo	NM	53%	High	40/100
23	87567	Santa Cruz	NM	53%	High	45/100
24	87701	Las Vegas	NM	53%	High	35/100
25	88046	Mesilla	NM	53%	High	82/100
26	88265	Monument	NM	53%	High	81/100
27	87011	Claunch	NM	52%	High	53/100
28	87040	Paguate	NM	52%	High	53/100
29	87801	Socorro	NM	52%	High	53/100
30	88318	Corona	NM	52%	High	77/100
31	88338	Lincoln	NM	52%	High	77/100
32	88424	Grenville	NM	52%	High	82/100
33	87028	La Joya	NM	51%	High	63/100
34	87523	Cordova	NM	51%	High	60/100
35	87752	Wagon Mound	NM	51%	High	58/100
36	87820	Aragon	NM	51%	High	43/100
37	88034	Faywood	NM	51%	High	53/100
38	88250	Hope	NM	51%	High	69/100
39	88401	Tucumcari	NM	51%	High	70/100
40	88418	Des Moines	NM	51%	High	77/100
41	87051	San Rafael	NM	50%	High	77/100
42	88065	Tyrone	NM	50%	High	74/100
43	88120	Grady	NM	50%	High	66/100
44	88211	Artesia	NM	50%	High	68/100
45	88314	Bent	NM	50%	High	63/100
46	88343	Picacho	NM	50%	High	53/100
47	88419	Folsom	NM	50%	High	53/100
48	88430	Nara Visa	NM	50%	High	54/100
49	87002	Belen	NM	49%	High	48/100
50	87017	Gallina	NM	49%	High	60/100
51	87106	Albuquerque	NM	49%	High	45/100
52	87532	Espanola	NM	49%	High	76/100
53	87547	White Rock	NM	49%	High	63/100
54	87552	Pecos	NM	49%	High	55/100
55	87571	Taos	NM	49%	High	69/100
56	87732	Mora	NM	49%	High	62/100
57	88124	Melrose	NM	49%	High	78/100
58	88203	Roswell	NM	49%	High	69/100
59	88253	Lake Arthur	NM	49%	High	83/100
60	87005	Bluewater	NM	48%	High	59/100
61	87016	Estancia	NM	48%	High	72/100
62	87032	Mcintosh	NM	48%	High	53/100
63	87412	Blanco	NM	48%	High	73/100
64	87413	Bloomfield	NM	48%	High	70/100
65	87512	Amalia	NM	48%	High	40/100
66	87565	San Jose	NM	48%	High	51/100
67	87566	Ohkay Owingeh	NM	48%	High	40/100
68	88043	Hurley	NM	48%	High	77/100
69	88051	Mule Creek	NM	48%	High	53/100
70	88262	Mcdonald	NM	48%	High	53/100
71	88321	Encino	NM	48%	High	66/100
72	88324	Glencoe	NM	48%	High	63/100
73	88410	Amistad	NM	48%	High	53/100
74	88417	Cuervo	NM	48%	High	53/100
75	88427	Mcalister	NM	48%	High	53/100
76	87038	New Laguna	NM	47%	High	53/100
77	87102	Albuquerque	NM	47%	High	45/100
78	87108	Albuquerque	NM	47%	High	45/100
79	87110	Albuquerque	NM	47%	High	45/100
80	87522	Chimayo	NM	47%	High	66/100
81	87543	Llano	NM	47%	High	65/100
82	87740	Raton	NM	47%	High	64/100
83	88041	Hanover	NM	47%	High	59/100
84	88317	Cloudcroft	NM	47%	High	82/100
85	88414	Capulin	NM	47%	High	82/100
86	87025	Jemez Springs	NM	46%	High	72/100
87	87027	La Jara	NM	46%	High	76/100
88	87042	Peralta	NM	46%	High	68/100
89	87524	Costilla	NM	46%	High	61/100
90	87527	Dixon	NM	46%	High	68/100
91	87537	Hernandez	NM	46%	High	51/100
92	87553	Penasco	NM	46%	High	51/100
93	87730	Mills	NM	46%	High	53/100
94	87733	Mosquero	NM	46%	High	72/100
95	87734	Ocate	NM	46%	High	40/100
96	88040	Hachita	NM	46%	High	71/100
97	88132	Rogers	NM	46%	High	53/100
98	88354	Weed	NM	46%	High	83/100
99	87107	Albuquerque	NM	45%	High	40/100
100	87112	Albuquerque	NM	45%	High	40/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.

Worst Infrastructure: New Mexico — 2026 Rankings