Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT

Albuquerque Public Schools (NM): 82 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area

30 ZIP codes · 24 water systems · 687,338 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in Albuquerque Public Schools: 54 violations at water systems mapped to the district's ZIP codes, not marked resolved in EPA records.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

C · 59
Avg Safety Score (24 ZIP)
30
ZIP Codes
24
Water Systems
241
Violations (since 2021) (26 ZIP)
0.011 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
Zone 1
Radon Risk (30 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico spans 30 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 24 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 26 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 687,338 across 5 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 24 scored ZIP records is C (59/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 42/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 79% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results 0.001 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.011 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 26 with known status -

EPA Violation History

82 health-based violations recorded across 26 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. 16 of 26 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 54 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Public Notice Rule Reporting 65 No 8
Groundwater Rule Treatment Technique 36 Yes 10
Fluoride Inorganic 26 Yes 2
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 25 No 5
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Treatment Technique 24 Yes 9
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 21 No 3
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 12 No 8
Arsenic Inorganic 9 Yes 1

Radon Risk

25 of 30 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1. 5 of 30 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
87121 Albuquerque D (42) 111 16 0 mg/L No
87059 Tijeras D (50) 26 19 0.0013 mg/L No
87015 Edgewood C (61) 23 15 0.011 mg/L No
87068 Bosque Farms B (71) 21 11 0.001 mg/L No
87122 Albuquerque D (52) 11 3 0.0021 mg/L No
87102 Albuquerque D (54) 9 1 0 mg/L No
87106 Albuquerque D (54) 9 1 0 mg/L No
87144 Rio Rancho B (75) 7 1 0.001 mg/L No
87008 Cedar Crest N/A 6 5 0.0013 mg/L No
87047 Sandia Park D (54) 6 6 0.0073 mg/L No
87108 Albuquerque C (58) 3 0 0 mg/L No
87123 Albuquerque C (58) 3 0 0 mg/L No
87111 Albuquerque C (57) 2 1 0 mg/L No
87113 Albuquerque C (57) 2 1 0 mg/L No
87114 Albuquerque C (56) 1 1 0 mg/L No
87124 Rio Rancho B (81) 1 1 0.001 mg/L No
87048 Corrales B (83) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87101 Albuquerque N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
87104 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87105 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87107 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87109 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87110 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87112 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87116 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87120 Albuquerque C (58) 0 0 0 mg/L No
87022 Isleta N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87026 Laguna N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87117 Kirtland Afb N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
87151 Albuquerque N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Albuquerque Public Schools schools?

EPA system-level records associated with Albuquerque Public Schools show 82 health-based violations across 26 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does Albuquerque Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → New Mexico → Albuquerque Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Albuquerque Public Schools (NM): 82 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/albuquerque-public-schools-nm/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Albuquerque Public Schools (NM): 82 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/albuquerque-public-schools-nm/}
}
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