We read 16 results from Albuquerque Water System’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 560,326 people · Water system ID NM3510701 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 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)average · range ND to 1.6 · sampled 2023 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.7 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)average · range 0.02 to 0.5 · sampled 2023 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.13 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.41 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Uraniumaverage · range ND to 6 · sampled 2023 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 2 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal3.3x the health goal |
| Bariumaverage · range 0.06 to 0.06 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.06 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (compliance) · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.28 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 16 · Distribution system (12 sites) · 2025 report, page 3 | 10.2 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 3.5 to 26.8 · Distribution system (12 sites) · 2025 report, page 3 | 27.5 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.46 to 0.46 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.46 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (compliance) · 2025 report, page 3 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range 0.06 to 3.47 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.75 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · Entry points (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 5 | Not detected | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Not detected |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · Entry points (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 5 | Not detected | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Not detected |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · San Juan-Chama plant · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.11 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Lithiumaverage · range 12 to 71 · Entry points (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 5 | 34 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 22 to 75 · Compliance monitoring · 2025 report, page 5 | 29 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Albuquerque Water System’s water between Jun 2024 and Jun 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium71.4 ppbFound in 52 of 52 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.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
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