Bernalillo County, NM
These figures come from wells tested in Bernalillo County, NM, not from any one well.
- Manganese is common in wells in Bernalillo County, NM (34 of 181 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Bernalillo County, NM (94 of 633 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Iron is not common in wells in Bernalillo County, NM (9 of 184 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Bernalillo County, NM are typically very hard (638 wells tested).
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- manganese (common in wells here)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- iron
- hardness
Most well owners also test for these. We point to the source and don't interpret the results.
- arsenic: occurs naturally in groundwater in many regions. USGS: arsenic and drinking water
- nitrate: common near farmland and septic systems. EPA: private drinking water wells
- total coliform bacteria: the standard yearly well check. EPA: private drinking water wells
- lead and copper: from household plumbing, especially when pH is below 6.5. EPA: lead in drinking water
- PFAS: several states run private-well sampling programs. EPA: PFAS
- a certified lab: states certify labs and some run their own private-well programs. New Mexico's certified-lab list (from your state drinking-water program)
The numbers
County figures describe the wells sampled there, not any one well. Exact counts, sample years and sources are below.
Iron Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.9% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 9 of 184 |
| Median | 0.005 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1944–2025 |
| Wells | 186 |
| Test results | 1,812 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (502), 11NPSWRD_WQX (1) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 19% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 34 of 181 |
| Median | 0.002445 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1963–2025 |
| Wells | 181 |
| Test results | 1,196 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (448), 11NPSWRD_WQX (1) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 67% |
| Median | 261 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1944–2025 |
| Wells | 638 |
| Test results | 1,406 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (637), 11NPSWRD_WQX (1) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 15% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 94 of 633 |
| Median | 79.4 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1944–2025 |
| Wells | 633 |
| Test results | 1,504 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (633) |