Albuquerque Water System
EPA ID: NM3510701 · 560,326 people served · 45 ZIP codes
Right now, Albuquerque Water System shows 176 EPA violations marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 560,326 residents while each finding awaits closure.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2022) to 129 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Albuquerque Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade F
Service Area Demographics
The Albuquerque Water System serves a community with a median household income of $65,654 and an estimated 661,559 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 35% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Albuquerque Water System's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 2% of homes in Sandoval County, New Mexico rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Albuquerque Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 77 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 76 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 14 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 14 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Albuquerque Water System (EPA ID: NM3510701) is a community water system in New Mexico that serves approximately 560,326 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 45 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: F (39/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 28, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 20, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 12, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 3, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 6, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 26, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Unresolved |
| April 26, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 21, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 21, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| November 25, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 77 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 76 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 14 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 14 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 11 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 10 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 6 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87048 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87101 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87102 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87103 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87104 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87105 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87106 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87107 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87108 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87109 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87110 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87111 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87112 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87113 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87114 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87115 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87116 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87119 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87120 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 87121 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 19 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 26 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 45 ZIP codes:
87048 · 87101 · 87102 · 87103 · 87104 87105 · 87106 · 87107 · 87108 · 87109 87110 · 87111 · 87112 · 87113 · 87114 87115 · 87116 · 87117 · 87119 · 87120 87121 · 87122 · 87123 · 87125 · 87131 87151 · 87153 · 87154 · 87158 · 87165 87176 · 87181 · 87184 · 87185 · 87187 87190 · 87191 · 87192 · 87193 · 87194 87195 · 87196 · 87197 · 87198 · 87199
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Albuquerque Water System (NM3510701) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albuquerque Water System water safe to drink?
Albuquerque Water System has recorded 13 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Albuquerque Water System serve?
Albuquerque Water System serves approximately 560,326 people across 45 ZIP codes in New Mexico.
Where does Albuquerque Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Albuquerque Water System (EPA ID: NM3510701) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.