Is there PFAS in New Mexico State University water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 7 samples EPA's program collected.
New Mexico State University is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving about 24,000 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 7 times across 4 sampling points between Oct 2024 and Oct 2025.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFMPA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, PFUnA, 8:2 FTS, PFPeA, PFHxS, PFMBA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, 4:2 FTS, NMeFOSAA, PFEESA, PFHxA, PFHpA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, PFNA, PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, PFDoA, PFBS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 66.3 ppb, detected in 6 of 6 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
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in New Mexico
- Los Alamos Municipal Water System none detected
- Kirtland Air Force Base none detected
- Gallup Water System none detected
- Camino Real Regional Utility Authority none detected
- Los Lunas Water System none detected
- Dona Ana Mdwca 2 PFAS detected
All 73 tested systems in New Mexico
ZIP codes served
88003
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 New Mexico State University water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NM3528707. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/new-mexico/new-mexico-state-university/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NM3528707). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.