Is Santa Fe, NM tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Santa Fe Water System.

23 public water systems serve parts of Santa Fe. The largest, City of Santa Fe Water System, serves 90,810 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Santa Fe Water System

90,810 people · Surface water · EPA ID NM3505126

Buys treated water from Buckman Regional Water Treatment Plant.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 1.1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1

Full City of Santa Fe Water System results

Across New Mexico, 1 of 77 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 14 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. New Mexico results.

Santa Fe homes and lead pipes

40%

of homes built before 1980 (New Mexico 43%, US 50%)

11%

built before 1950 (New Mexico 8%)

36%

of households rent (New Mexico 30%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Santa Fe city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Santa Fe

Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District
7,082 people · Purchased surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Lithium above screening level
Santa Fe County South Sector
6,775 people · Purchased surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Lithium above screening levelAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Santa Fe County West Sector
3,150 people · Purchased surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Las Campanas Water System
1,937 people · Purchased surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sunlit Hills Water System
1,018 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Nitrate-nitrite violation
Agua Fria Water Association
611 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 3 health-based violations since 2016

16 more systems

Bishops Lodge Water System
450 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 4 health-based violations since 2016
La Cienega MDWCA
321 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Trailer Ranch Senior Mobile Home Commun. Water System
200 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Canoncito at Apache Canyon Water System
178 people · Purchased groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hyde Park Estates Water Users Association
172 people · Purchased surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Village Mobile Home Park Water System
99 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Lone Star Trailer Ranch Water System
74 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 8 health-based violations since 2016
Shalom Mobile Home Park Water System
72 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 7 health-based violations since 2016
Canada de Los Alamos MDWCA
68 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violationAlso: Uranium violation
La Bajada MDWCA
66 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 7 health-based violations since 2016
Juniper Hills Ranch Water System
65 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 15 health-based violations since 2016
Asi la Mar Trailer Park Water System
61 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Wild and Wooley Trailer Ranch Water System
59 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 10 health-based violations since 2016
Juniper Hills MHP
56 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Arsenic violations
La Vista Homeowners Association
37 people · Groundwater · New Mexico · lists this city
Lead above action level
Buckman Regional Water Treatment Plant
Wholesale supplier (sells water to other systems) · Surface water · New Mexico · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Rio Rancho 48 mi Rio Rancho Water & Water Works Services	Rio Rancho Water & Water Works Services	None above limits	2 ppb
Albuquerque 54 mi Albuquerque Water System	Albuquerque Water System	None above limits	0 ppb
Farmington 144 mi Farmington Water System	Farmington Water System	None above limits	2.2 ppb
Clovis 178 mi EPCOR Water New Mexico Inc Clovis	EPCOR Water New Mexico Inc Clovis	None above limits	1 ppb
Roswell 178 mi Roswell Municipal Water System	Roswell Municipal Water System	None above limits	0 ppb
Alamogordo 192 mi Alamogordo Domestic Water System	Alamogordo Domestic Water System	None above limits	2 ppb

Santa Fe ZIP codes (3)

87501
87505
87507

Questions

Is Santa Fe tap water safe to drink?

City of Santa Fe Water System had 1 health-based violation since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Santa Fe, NM?

23 public water systems serve parts of Santa Fe. The largest is City of Santa Fe Water System (90,810 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Santa Fe tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Santa Fe Water System had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Santa Fe homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 40% of Santa Fe homes as built before 1980 (New Mexico: 43%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Santa Fe Water System's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.