Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (59/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 560,326 residents in ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 505-289-3382.
Is ALBUQUERQUE tap water safe to drink?
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 560,326 residents in ALBUQUERQUE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromate, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Uranium, Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for ALBUQUERQUE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.38 ppb, 594x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 14.8 ppb, 247x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 19.5 ppb, 130x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for ALBUQUERQUE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 59/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.38 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 594× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
14.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 247× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
19.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 130× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.51 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
7.32 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 73× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.92 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.58 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 53× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.971 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
1.67 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 17× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.91 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.21 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.71 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.54 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.353 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.5× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
87.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.38 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
73.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.07 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.2 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.53 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.08 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.005 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.379 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.0658 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.281 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.571 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
32.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.000194 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ALBUQUERQUE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.