States › New Mexico › Otero County

Otero County, NM Water Quality

Water quality data for 15 public water systems serving Otero County, New Mexico — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 15 water systems · 17 cities
⚠️
Caution Advised — Some Systems Need Attention

Some systems have elevated lead levels or active violations. Check your specific city below.

C

Otero County Earns a C

Otero County: 17 communities across 15 water systems. 82.4% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.40 ppb
  • 16 communities with a lead detection, 1 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 15 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 82.4% of communities have no open violations
2.4 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
15
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
82%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Holloman AFB
    1.30 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Boles Acres
    2.60 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Alamogordo
    2.00 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    A
  • Twin Forks
    3.60 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Orogrande
    3.40 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Timberon
    2.20 ppb
    4 violations currently open
    F
  • Pinon
    4.00 ppb
    7 violations currently open
    F
  • Mayhill
    1.00 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Tularosa
    1.90 ppb
    3 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Mescalero
    5.30 ppb
    4 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.4 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.4 ppb — 16% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
14
5 – 10 ppb
2
No Data
1

All Cities in Otero County

Alamogordo 2.00 ppb A
Chaparral Not detected C
Holloman AFB 1.30 ppb A
Tularosa 1.90 ppb C
Boles Acres 2.60 ppb B
La Luz 3.90 ppb B
Cloudcroft 2.60 ppb C
Mescalero 5.30 ppb C
High Rolls 1.00 ppb C
Timberon 2.20 ppb F
Twin Forks 3.60 ppb B
Mayhill 1.00 ppb D
Weed 1.00 ppb B
Orogrande 3.40 ppb B
Pinon 4.00 ppb F
Bent 5.30 ppb C
Sacramento 1.00 ppb B
Showing 17 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Otero County Drinking Water

Otero County is served by 15 water systems covering 17 communities. 82% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 16 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.40 ppb — 16% of the federal action level. 1 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 15 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Otero County tap water safe to drink?▼
82% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Otero County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.40 ppb, 16% of the 15 ppb action level. 1 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Otero County?▼
15 community water systems serve 17 communities here.
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