Copper in New Mexico well water
In New Mexico, <1% of 2,813 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for copper (1.3 mg/L).
Copper leaches from pipes when water is acidic. Above 1.3 mg/L it causes stomach upset, and long-term exposure can harm the liver and kidneys. Blue-green stains on fixtures are the giveaway.
Check your copper number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your New Mexico well for copper
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove copper
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For copper
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For copper
Acid neutralizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,200
Raises pH so plumbing stops leaching lead and copper.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for copper in New Mexico: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (1.3 mg/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy | 93 | 96% | 0.012 | 190 mg/L | |
| Valencia | 31 | 61% | 0 | 2.2 mg/L | |
| Luna | 30 | 90% | 0 | 0.02 mg/L | |
| Roosevelt | 152 | 87% | 0 | 0.88 mg/L | |
| Socorro | 96 | 85% | 0 | 0.05 mg/L | |
| Chaves | 34 | 85% | 0 | 0.1 mg/L | |
| Sierra | 51 | 78% | 0.001 | 0.011 mg/L | |
| Otero | 65 | 75% | 0.002 | 0.022 mg/L | |
| Santa Fe | 123 | 73% | 0.001 | 0.14 mg/L | |
| Sandoval | 68 | 72% | 0.001 | 0.55 mg/L | |
| Cibola | 86 | 64% | 0 | 0.08 mg/L | |
| Lincoln | 33 | 61% | 0 | 0.36 mg/L | |
| Catron | 73 | 60% | 0 | 0.04 mg/L | |
| Doña Ana | 395 | 58% | 0.001 | 0.044 mg/L | |
| Taos | 48 | 52% | 0 | 0.154 mg/L |
- Loving CCD, Eddy County23% of 53
- Carlsbad CCD, Eddy County3% of 33
- Magdalena CCD, Socorro County0% of 32
- Elida CCD, Roosevelt County0% of 135
- Socorro CCD, Socorro County0% of 51
- Santa Fe South CCD, Santa Fe County0% of 62
- Rio Rancho CCD, Sandoval County0% of 47
- Santa Fe CCD, Santa Fe County0% of 30
- Napi Headquarters CCD, San Juan County0% of 92
- Alamogordo CCD, Otero County0% of 43
- Hatch CCD, Doña Ana County0% of 105
- White Sands CCD, Doña Ana County0% of 156
- Grants CCD, Cibola County0% of 62
- Quemado CCD, Catron County0% of 72
- Shiprock-Sanostee CCD, San Juan County0% of 69
- Crownpoint CCD, McKinley County0% of 32
- Santa Fe North CCD, Santa Fe County0% of 31
- Albuquerque CCD, Bernalillo County0% of 633
- Las Cruces CCD, Doña Ana County0% of 35
- Nenahnezad-Burnham CCD, San Juan County0% of 47
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. copper counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.