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In an effort to better understand the scope of potential and existing PFAS contamination around the state, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has worked with state and federal partners to conduct sampling for PFAS in water around the state. Data from other sampling is also posted here.

Cannon Air Force Base (Curry County) and Holloman Air Force Base (Otero County)

These data represent results from testing done by NMED, Department of Health and the U.S. Air Force at and around Cannon Air Force Base and Holloman Air Force Base, unless otherwise noted, up to 2019.

PFAS Delineation Investigation

NMED began work on a PFAS delineation investigation in February 2021. This work is related to the previous use of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), located near the city of Clovis in Curry County, and Holloman AFB, located near the city of Alamogordo in Otero County.

The size of the PFAS groundwater contamination plumes at Cannon AFB and Holloman AFB are unknown at this time. Given the potential magnitude of these groundwater plumes, NMED is undertaking an efficient and technically defensible data-driven investigation that will enhance our understanding of the size and movement of the existing PFAS plumes. The objectives of the investigation are to:

  • Provide better definition of existing groundwater plume geometry and predictions of future plume migration and surface water contamination and conveyance, including empirically derived rates of movements of contaminants;
  • Identify and sample all participating public and private water supply wells that have had PFAS detections or are at potential risk of current or future PFAS contamination;
  • Establish regular groundwater monitoring programs;
  • Investigate the extent to which resident and migratory waterfowl at the Lake Holloman Wetlands Complex are contaminated with, or otherwise adversely affected by, PFAS.

Well testing in Curry and Roosevelt Counties

In 2021, through an appropriation from the New Mexico Legislature, NMED developed and implemented a PFAS sampling program at private and agricultural wells in Curry and Roosevelt Counties. NMED’s Drinking Water Bureau conducted the sampling program in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Using the best available approved analytical methods, the sampling program tested for 28 different PFAS compounds at 55 wells across Curry and Roosevelt Counties. NMED directly notified all well owners of their individual results.

While there is no national drinking water standard for PFAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had previously established a drinking water Lifetime Health Advisory level of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, two specific PFAS chemicals. On June 15, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released four interim drinking water health advisories for PFAS. Among the four new lifetime health advisories, two replace prior advisories for PFOA and PFOS and two were issued for the first time for Generation X and PFBS. The new EPA health advisories indicate that health effects might occur at lower levels than EPA previously thought. 

The lifetime health advisories are non-enforceable guidelines issued by EPA to provide technical information to state agencies and other public health officials on health effects, analytical methods, and treatment technologies associated with drinking water contamination.The interim report can be viewed here.

Statewide Private Well PFAS Study

During calendar year 2023 the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and U.S. Geological Survey conducted PFAS testing of groundwater from private domestic wells. Well owners participated on a voluntary, first-come first-serve basis. The projects were funded by Special Appropriations from the New Mexico Legislature and samples were collected free-of-charge to well owners. In calendar year 2023 a total of 164 wells were sampled across 19 counties.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals. Click here to learn more. Note that these standards will not apply to private well water quality but they provide a useful comparison.

2023 Private Well PFAS Sampling Data – Last updated January 8, 2024

Additional resources are located at the following:

  • EPA — Reducing PFAS Risk

  • National Ground Water Association — PFAS and Private Well Owners

  • NMED — PFAS and Your Private Well

Statewide PFAS Study

The NMED Drinking Water Bureau is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to sample for 28 PFAS chemicals in groundwater and surface water around New Mexico, including multiple public drinking water systems. Results can be found at the USGS online database: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nm/nwis/qwdata.

The data are also available on our latest spreadsheet updated 08/17/2023.

PFAS Sampling at Los Alamos National Laboratory

The NMED Department of Energy-Oversight Bureau (DOE-OB) began sampling of PFAS in the fall of 2020 at Los Alamos National Laboratory. As part of its ongoing mission, the DOE-OB performs independent sampling and monitoring of Department of Energy (DOE) legacy operations. Los Alamos National Laboratory PFAS sampling data obtained by the DOE-OB is uploaded to the Intellus New Mexico environmental database located at https://www.intellusnm.com/

U.S. EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule

EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to collect data for contaminants that are suspected to be present in drinking water and do not yet have health-based standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). A select number of public water systems (PWS) are sampled under the UCMR.

Testing for the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) occurred from 2013-2015. The EPA included six PFAS chemicals in this round of testing. Among 35 water systems tested in New Mexico, UCMR3 sampling returned only a single PFAS detection for PFHpA.

Testing for the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) began in 2023 and will continue through 2025. This round of testing features 29 PFAS chemicals, including six that the EPA has proposed for drinking water regulations: PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX).

The initial results of UCMR5 testing were released on August 17, 2023. Of the PFAS contaminants that EPA has proposed to regulate, initial UCMR5 results indicate detections at two out of 15 PWS tested so far with PFBS and PFHxS found at one water system and PFOA at another. The initial UCMR5 data release represents approximately 7% of the total number of results that EPA will publish over the next three years. UCMR results for New Mexico are provided in the links below and UCMR5 results will be posted here as they are released.

*Note: UCMR results are provided in units of micrograms per liter (µg/L, equivalent to parts per billion). To convert results in µg/L to ng/L, multiply the value by 1,000. Click here for an EPA summary of the initial UCMR5 data release.

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