Santa Fe County, New Mexico: drinking water report. Santa Fe County in north-central New Mexico has about 154,000 residents, with Santa Fe as both the
Santa Fe County in north-central New Mexico has about 154,000 residents, with Santa Fe as both the county seat and state capital. Water scarcity defines the county – Santa Fe receives only 14 inches of precipitation annually and has long managed one of the most water-stressed municipal supply systems in the Southwest. Water comes from the Santa Fe River, Buckman Direct Diversion from the Rio Grande, and deep groundwater wells.
Santa Fe's groundwater shows naturally elevated arsenic from the volcanic geology underlying the county. According to the New Mexico Environment Department's 2024 compliance data, the Santa Fe city system's arsenic concentrations have required blending well water with surface sources to stay below the 10 ppb MCL. Some wells individually exceed the limit.
The former Santa Fe Municipal Airport has documented limited AFFF use. NMED's 2024 PFAS investigation found low-level PFAS at 4 ppt in monitoring wells near the facility. Los Alamos National Laboratory, 35 miles northwest, has extensive contamination that includes PFAS, perchlorate, and radionuclides – while the contamination is concentrated on the Pajarito Plateau, the Rio Grande carries diluted traces past the Buckman Diversion intake.
Santa Fe's water supply is carefully managed but stretched thin. The Buckman Direct Diversion added important supply capacity, but the Rio Grande's quality at the diversion point reflects upstream inputs from Los Alamos and other sources.
Check your water for current data. For arsenic and trace contaminants, reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap is the most reliable household protection. Our water filter guide covers systems suited to desert groundwater. Pull your detailed report for local data, and visit our New Mexico page for statewide patterns.