McKinley County, NM
These figures come from wells tested in McKinley County, NM, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in McKinley County, NM (2 of 13 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in McKinley County, NM (325 of 621 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is not common in wells in McKinley County, NM (1 of 13 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in McKinley County, NM are typically moderately hard (596 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:
- iron (common in wells here)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- manganese
- 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 | 15% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 13 |
| Median | 0.068 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1942–2021 |
| Wells | 13 |
| Test results | 469 |
| Wells left out | 4 |
| Sources | USGS (366) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 7.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 13 |
| Median | 0.0108 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1957–2021 |
| Wells | 13 |
| Test results | 136 |
| Wells left out | 4 |
| Sources | USGS (114) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 40% |
| Median | 110 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1933–2021 |
| Wells | 596 |
| Test results | 809 |
| Wells left out | 4 |
| Sources | USGS (596) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 52% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 325 of 621 |
| Median | 270 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1933–2021 |
| Wells | 621 |
| Test results | 827 |
| Wells left out | 4 |
| Sources | USGS (621) |