Otero County, NM
These figures come from wells tested in Otero County, NM, not from any one well.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Otero County, NM (249 of 307 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Iron and manganese are not common in wells in Otero County, NM (1 of 39 and 0 of 39 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Otero County, NM are typically very hard (296 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:
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- iron
- 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 | 2.6% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 39 |
| Median | 0.0092 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1947–2022 |
| Wells | 39 |
| Test results | 114 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (101) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 0.0% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 0 of 39 |
| Median | 0.00138 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1953–2022 |
| Wells | 39 |
| Test results | 76 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (70) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 98% |
| Median | 915 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1944–2022 |
| Wells | 296 |
| Test results | 526 |
| Wells left out | 5 |
| Sources | USGS (296) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 81% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 249 of 307 |
| Median | 700 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1944–2022 |
| Wells | 307 |
| Test results | 525 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (307) |