New Mexico Water Quality Report: 2,430 Water-System Violations Mapped to 154 ZIPs
328 water systems · 154 ZIP codes · 2,430 violations
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 328 public water systems serving 154 ZIP codes in New Mexico. The state record shows 2,430 EPA violations, 847 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: New Mexico
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Cities with Most Violations in New Mexico
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espanola | 141 | 5 | 19,522 | Details → | |
| 2 | Albuquerque | 135 | 13 | 652,362 | Details → | |
| 3 | Santa Fe | 99 | 13 | 133,507 | Details → | |
| 4 | Belen | 91 | 3 | 21,375 | Details → | |
| 5 | Las Vegas | 75 | 3 | 17,864 | Details → | |
| 6 | Taos | 61 | 5 | 12,544 | Details → | |
| 7 | Bloomfield | 57 | 5 | 14,966 | Details → | |
| 8 | Carlsbad | 56 | 4 | 40,151 | Details → | |
| 9 | Anthony | 52 | 5 | 16,102 | Details → | |
| 10 | Las Cruces | 49 | 13 | 157,191 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in New Mexico
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 550 | 90 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 477 | 104 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 360 | 86 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 184 | 74 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 182 | 63 | Yes |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 161 | 12 | Yes |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 113 | 49 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 110 | 38 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 73 | 37 | Yes |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 47 | 3 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
New Mexico has 328 community water systems represented across 154 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 1,928,720 people. The available records contain 2,430 EPA violations, including 847 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 35% of all violations in New Mexico. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 847 | 34.9% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 1,583 | 65.1% |
| Total | 2,430 | 100% |
Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL (disinfectant) and treatment-technique violations. Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in New Mexico have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espanola | 141 | 5 | 19,522 |
| 2 | Albuquerque | 135 | 13 | 652,362 |
| 3 | Santa Fe | 99 | 13 | 133,507 |
| 4 | Belen | 91 | 3 | 21,375 |
| 5 | Las Vegas | 75 | 3 | 17,864 |
| 6 | Taos | 61 | 5 | 12,544 |
| 7 | Bloomfield | 57 | 5 | 14,966 |
| 8 | Carlsbad | 56 | 4 | 40,151 |
| 9 | Anthony | 52 | 5 | 16,102 |
| 10 | Las Cruces | 49 | 13 | 157,191 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in New Mexico:
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2023 | 68 |
| 2024 | 206 |
| 2025 | 64 |
| 2026 | 23 |
Health-based violations have decreased from 44 in 2021 to 23 in 2026, suggesting improving compliance across New Mexico.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across New Mexico water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 477 | 104 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 360 | 86 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 184 | 74 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 182 | 63 | Yes |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 161 | 12 | Yes |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 113 | 49 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 110 | 38 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 73 | 37 | Yes |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 47 | 3 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 34 | 29 | No |
How to Check Your Water in New Mexico
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems in New Mexico. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations are EPA violations of a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), a Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) or a required treatment technique - the enforceable standards designed to protect human health. New Mexico has 847 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness; review each violation type and duration to understand possible health implications.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grades summarize ZipCheckup's scoring inputs; review the underlying records for specific issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in New Mexico?
Records for 328 community water systems mapped to ZIPs in New Mexico show 2,430 reported violations, including 847 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving New Mexico?
New Mexico has 2,430 EPA violations on record across 154 ZIP codes; 847 are classified as health-based violations. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in New Mexico has the worst water quality?
Espanola, NM has the most recorded EPA violations (141) among the cities with mapped water systems in New Mexico in our data. Check your water supplier's report and test your tap water for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in New Mexico has the best water quality?
Violation records vary by water system across New Mexico. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in New Mexico drinking water?
EPA regulates over 90 drinking-water contaminants nationally; water systems in New Mexico monitor those applicable to each system, which can include lead, copper, nitrate, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.