What was found in Santa Fe's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2500 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 490 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 141.7 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2017 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 140 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Mobile Home Community · 400 people · 2018 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 20.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA FE WATER SYSTEM (CITY OF) · 90,810 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 130 µg/L — Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2024 | 4/27 | UCMR-5 |
| Combined Uranium | 28 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 18.23 pCi/L 122% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: San Ildefonso Pueblo · 608 people · 2019 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 12.43 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: San Ildefonso Pueblo · 608 people · 2018 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9.625 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2018 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 7.9765 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Highest in the city: Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2018 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 7.095 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.7 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: San Ildefonso Pueblo · 608 people · 2018 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.336 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2018 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.35 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Mobile Home Community · 400 people · 2019 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.0885 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2018 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.98 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.6405 pCi/L 33% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.5120 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Pojoaque South · 3,644 people · 2018 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.4800 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: Tesuque Pueblo · 800 people · 2017 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.0160 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ELDORADO AREA WATER AND SANITATION DIST. · 7,082 people · 2024 | 1/27 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0013 mg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SANTA FE WATER SYSTEM (CITY OF) · 90,810 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0080 mg/L — LA VISTA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION · 37 people · 2020 | 26/27 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Santa Fe
Frequently asked questions about Santa Fe tap water
Is Santa Fe tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Santa Fe. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Santa Fe?
27 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Santa Fe, New Mexico to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Santa Fe's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Santa Fe include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Lithium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.