Quay County, NM
These figures come from wells tested in Quay County, NM, not from any one well.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Quay County, NM (1 of 26 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Quay County, NM are typically very hard (18 wells tested).
- Too few wells have been tested in Quay County, NM (7) to say how common iron is.
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- iron
- manganese
- hardness
- sulfate
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 Too few
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 43% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 7 |
| Median | 0.09 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1958–1971 |
| Wells | 7 |
| Test results | 7 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (7) |
Fewer than 10 wells behind this figure; treat it as a hint, not a prior.
Hardness Older tests
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 83% |
| Median | 200 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1952–1978 |
| Wells | 18 |
| Test results | 19 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (18) |
Sulfate Older tests
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 3.8% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 26 |
| Median | 36.5 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1952–1978 |
| Wells | 26 |
| Test results | 27 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (26) |