We read 11 results from Alamogordo Domestic Water System’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 35,301 people · Water system ID NM3513319 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 2.5 to 4.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 4.4 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 2 | 2 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 0.08 to 0.09 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.09 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Uraniumhighest measured · range 1 to 2 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 2 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal3.3x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.02 to 0.03 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.03 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.9 to 1 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 1 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.17 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 0.7 to 16 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 19 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 3.3 to 54 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 37 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.17 to 0.41 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.41 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.38 to 3.79 · listed as a violation in the report · Sources · 2024 report, page 2 | 3.79 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Alamogordo Domestic Water System’s water between Nov 2023 and Sep 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.4 pptFound in 1 of 14 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- Lithium33 ppbFound in 10 of 14 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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