Albuquerque, NM Water Quality Report
Is Albuquerque tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Albuquerque tap water safe to drink? Albuquerque water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 85 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.
What contaminants are in Albuquerque water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Albuquerque water: lithium (85 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Albuquerque? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Albuquerque Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Albuquerque drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 85 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 36.97 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 85 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Albuquerque Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 9 lead samples for Albuquerque water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0075 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Albuquerque
Albuquerque public water systems have 50 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Chromium, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Nitrite. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Albuquerque: approximately 564,559.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Albuquerque to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Albuquerque Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually