City water report · 2026

Is Albuquerque Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Short answer: In the 2022–2025 records we hold for Albuquerque, no listed result is above a legal limit. Also worth knowing: lithium sits above a screening level. 1 substance was detected and 30 were tested and not detected. The water is from Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, serving 560,326 residents.

  • Year 2026
  • Utility Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
  • Coverage 31 records
  • Updated 2026-10-15
Water utility

Where Albuquerque’s water comes from

Utility
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
Water system
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM · NM3510701
Source water
Surface water
Disinfectant
not on record
Population served
560,326
Reporting period
Sampled 2022–2025
Monitoring coverage
31 records · 3 of 4 groups measured
Service lines
0 lead, 20 galvanized, 170,705 unknown material (EPA inventory, 2026Q2)
Likely match, check your bill

5 water systems report serving Albuquerque. This report uses the largest, ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM. Your water bill names your actual supplier. Source: EPA SDWIS 2026Q2.

Also supplies: South Valley, North Valley, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

Why this matters
  1. 1
    Source

    Surface water

  2. 2
    Treatment

    The treatment details are not on record.

  3. 3
    Distribution

    Mains, then your building’s service line.

  4. 4
    Your tap

    Plumbing inside the building is outside this record.

At a glance

Albuquerque water in four numbers

Purity ScoreALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM · PWSID NM3510701
1Detected1 above a reference
1Above a referenceof 31 records
0Health-based violationslast 10 years · EPA SDWIS

No measured result is above a legal limit; lithium sits above a screening level.

What we found

One detected result

LithiumAbove screening · Screening level10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)71.4µg/L
① · Measured

71.4 µg/L, sampled 2024-06-12 to 2025-06-04. EPA UCMR 5.

② · Compared

10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit).

③ · Meaning

Detected at up to 71.4 µg/L (above the 10 µg/L EPA health reference level; a screening level, not a legal limit).

④ · Where it matters

Where it enters is not in this record.

⑤ · What to do

Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Depends on the contaminant (The certifier's listing for each named contaminant).

See the evidence record →
30 others tested, none detectedshow
  • 11Cl-PF3OUdS
  • 8:2 FTS
  • 4:2 FTS
  • 6:2 FTS
  • ADONA
  • 9Cl-PF3ONS
  • HFPO-DA (GenX)
  • Lead (90th percentile)
  • NEtFOSAA
  • NMeFOSAA
  • NFDHA
  • PFEESA
  • PFMPA
  • PFMBA
  • PFBS
  • PFBA
  • PFDA
  • PFDoA
  • PFHpS
  • PFHpA
  • PFHxS
  • PFHxA
  • PFNA
  • PFOS
  • PFOA
  • PFPeS
  • PFPeA
  • PFTA
  • PFTrDA
  • PFUnA

ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM (EPA PWSID NM3510701) delivers surface water to 560,326 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.

Track record

0health-based violations in the last 10 years

From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.

Not in this recordDisinfection by-products weren't monitored in this dataset

No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.

Your household

Your tap can differ from the city record

The record describes water leaving treatment and samples across the system. Pipes, solder and fixtures inside a building can add lead the record can’t see, especially in older buildings with lead service lines.

Test your water
  1. City
    Treated water

    Measured in this report

  2. Mains
    Distribution network

    Sampled across the system

  3. Building
    Service line and plumbing

    Not in this record

  4. Tap
    Your glass

    Only a tap test measures it

Test first, then treat

Three steps from a record to your glass

  1. 01Test

    Know what comes from your tap, starting with a first-draw lead sample.

  2. 02Match

    Compare each result with its named reference in our test reader.

  3. 03Treat

    Choose a technology certified for what your test found.

Commercial

Test kits

Affiliate links

Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

  • Lab-certified results

    ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit

    ETR Laboratories

    50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria

    What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit

    Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)

    Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb

    • Turnaround: 5 minutes

    What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.

When your results arrive, read them here → · Compare every kit we list

Treatment matching

What can reduce what was found here

FindingReference typeTechnologyCertification to check
Lithium71.4 µg/LScreening levelDepends on the contaminantThe certifier's listing for each named contaminant
Galvanized service lines20 galvanized on record (EPA inventory, 2026Q2)Not a tap measurementLead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosisNSF/ANSI 53 (lead)

Understand water treatment technologies →

Commercial

Certified for a concern found here

Each card names which Albuquerque findings its current certification covers, and which it doesn't.

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.

Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher
Water Pitcher

Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)
Water Pitcher

Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
See all 13 products certified for a Albuquerque concern →
PUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V)
Faucet Attachment

PUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)
Under-Sink Filter

Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)
Under-Sink Filter

Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
Countertop System

Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Frizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter
Under-Sink Filter

Frizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (4)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System
Countertop System

Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
AquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100)
Countertop System

AquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)
Countertop System

AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
Under-Sink Filter

Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
Under-Sink Filter

Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)
Refrigerator Filter

Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)

  • Lead: eligible, evidence match
  • Not established: Lithium
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names

Lead service lines

Ask your utility first

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority reported 20 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.

Local help

Think your plumbing may be adding lead?

Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.

Is this right for my home?

Choose your situation

Your situation
Your path: I live in an older buildingLead from plumbing is the main question

Older buildings may have lead service lines, solder or fixtures. Albuquerque’s utility reported 20 galvanized service lines in EPA’s inventory. Test first-draw water, then filter if needed.

Look forLead reduction: NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)
How to test your tap →
Your path: I care about PFASCheck what was tested

None of the 29 PFAS tested was detected in Albuquerque’s record. If PFAS matters to you, a filter certification names each compound it covers.

Look forNSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with each compound you care about named on the listing
PFAS in Albuquerque →
Your path: My water tastes of chlorineThe disinfectant is not in this record

Most utilities keep chlorine or chloramine in the pipes. A carbon filter certified for taste and odor reduces either; your utility can tell you which it uses.

Look forNSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine taste and odor)
Water treatment technologies →
Your path: I have scale or hard waterHardness is not in this record

Your utility’s annual water quality report usually lists hardness; a test strip also measures it.

Look forSoftener: NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners)
Hard water explained →
Your path: I want the broadest reductionReverse osmosis at one tap

Reverse osmosis reduces many dissolved contaminants, including lead and minerals, at a single faucet, with some water sent to drain.

Look forNSF/ANSI 58
Compare treatments →
Questions

Albuquerque tap water FAQ

Follow Albuquerque’s water

Get one email when Albuquerque’s record changes.

Follow Albuquerque’s water →
Is Albuquerque tap water safe to drink?

PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Albuquerque, no regulated PFAS were detected in EPA's 2024 testing. ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM (PWSID NM3510701) has a Purity Score of 100/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap. What we found →

Who provides tap water in Albuquerque?

ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM (PWS ID NM3510701) is the public water system on record for Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving about 560,326 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding. Water utility →

Where does Albuquerque get its drinking water?

Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS). Water utility →

Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Albuquerque's water?

None of the 29 PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024-06-05 to 2025-06-04) was detected. "Not detected" means below the lab's reporting limit, not proven zero. What we found →

Is there lead in Albuquerque's tap water?

Lead is not in Albuquerque's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours. Your household →

What does the latest Albuquerque water report show?

PurityMap's current record for Albuquerque holds 31 findings: 1 above a reference and 30 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass. Records →

Data and sources

31 records, each traceable

  • EPA UCMR 5
  • EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule)
ContaminantMeasuredReferenceSampledSource
Lithium71.4 µg/L10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)< 2 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)< 5 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Lead (90th percentile)Not detected15 µg/L federal action level2022–2024EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)< 6 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)< 20 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)< 4 ng/L (not detected)4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)< 4 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)< 8 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)< 7 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)< 2 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024–2025EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
  • UCMR5 Analytical Results

    UCMR5 Analytical Results: ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM (NM3510701)

    US EPA

    Published
    2026-10-15
    Newest sample
    2025-06-04
    Findings here
    30
  • State SDWIS Compliance Record

    Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM (NM3510701)

    US EPA SDWIS

    Published
    2026-10-13
    Newest sample
    2024
    Findings here
    1

Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.

Methodology

How PurityMap reads Albuquerque’s water

  1. 01Source data

    EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR 5 and utility reports, each dated and linked.

  2. 02Normalize

    Units converted to one basis; a non-detect kept distinct from zero.

  3. 03Classify

    Each result tagged by reference type: MCL, action level, screening level or aesthetic.

  4. 04Compare to the named reference

    Every value sits against its own reference, never a blended one.

  5. 05Score

    Measured subjects summarised at the water-system level; an open health-based violation caps the score.

  6. 06Match treatment

    Treatment is matched to what was found; a product is called certified only when its current certification names it.

What the Purity Score means: a summary of this water system’s published record, capped while a health-based violation is open. It is not a test of any tap. ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM · PWSID NM3510701 · Purity Score 100/100 (Excellent) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level

Full methodology →

Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?

Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority reported something related, it's shown below.

ZIP codes in Albuquerque

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