Las Cruces, NM Water Quality Report
Is Las Cruces tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Las Cruces, New Mexico. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Las Cruces tap water safe to drink? Las Cruces water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 171 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.
What contaminants are in Las Cruces water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Las Cruces water: lithium (171 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Las Cruces? 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.
Las Cruces Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Las Cruces drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 171 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 66.41 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: 171 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Las Cruces Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 38 lead samples for Las Cruces water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.009 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 Las Cruces
Las Cruces public water systems have 14 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Chromium, Gross Alpha (excl. radon & uranium), Surface Water Treatment Rule. 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 Las Cruces: approximately 101,759.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Las Cruces to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Las Cruces 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