Is there PFAS in Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley water?
Yes, at low levels. 1 PFAS was detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley
Serves 11,542 people · 16 PFOA samples from 8 sampling points · Feb 2024 to Apr 2025
PFAS found, below EPA limits
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
not detected
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.0 avg · max 0.0
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS.
Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Anthony, New Mexico, serving about 11,542 people, including Anthony, Berino, La Mesa, Mesilla Park, Mesquite, Vado. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 16 times across 8 sampling points between Feb 2024 and Apr 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFMBA, PFDA, PFHxA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, PFOA, PFPeA, PFDoA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFMPA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFUnA, PFHpA, PFOS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 335 ppb, detected in 16 of 16 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Levels here are under EPA's limits, so no treatment is required. If you want them lower anyway, a certified reverse osmosis system under the sink handles drinking water, and a whole-house carbon filter also takes out the chlorine or chloramine your utility adds.
Other systems in New Mexico
All 73 tested systems in New Mexico
ZIP codes served
88021 88024 88044 88047 88048 88072
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Lower Rio Grande Pwwa South Valley water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NM3502407. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/new-mexico/lower-rio-grande-pwwa-south-valley/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NM3502407). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
