States › New Mexico › Taos County

Taos County, NM Water Quality

Water quality data for 15 public water systems serving Taos 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

Taos County Earns a C

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

  • Median lead where detected: 2.60 ppb
  • 17 communities with a lead detection, 0 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 15 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 82.4% of communities have no open violations
2.6 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
  • San Cristobal
    2.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Chamisal
    2.50 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Red River
    6.00 ppb
    10 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Talpa
    2.20 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Arroyo Seco
    3.80 ppb
    4 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Ranchos de Taos
    4.50 ppb
    12 violations currently open
    F
  • Questa
    2.60 ppb
    2 violations currently open
    D
  • Costilla
    2.00 ppb
    4 violations currently open
    D
  • Ojo Caliente
    5.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    D
  • Peñasco
    9.20 ppb
    3 significant inspection deficiencies
    D
County Lead Level — Median 2.6 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.6 ppb — 17.3% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
11
5 – 10 ppb
5
10 – 15 ppb
1

All Cities in Taos County

Taos 5.00 ppb C
Ranchos de Taos 4.50 ppb F
Questa 2.60 ppb D
Talpa 2.20 ppb C
Arroyo Seco 3.80 ppb C
Red River 6.00 ppb B
Peñasco 9.20 ppb D
Rio Lucio 2.00 ppb C
Arroyo Hondo 14.00 ppb D
Vadito 2.30 ppb C
Chamisal 2.50 ppb B
San Cristobal 2.00 ppb B
Costilla 2.00 ppb D
Ojo Caliente 5.00 ppb D
Taos Ski Valley 2.60 ppb C
Picuris Pueblo 2.00 ppb C
Taos Pueblo 5.00 ppb C
Showing 17 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Taos County Drinking Water

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

Of the communities reporting lead results, 17 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.60 ppb — 17% of the federal action level. 0 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 Taos 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 Taos County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.60 ppb, 17% of the 15 ppb action level. 0 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Taos County?▼
15 community water systems serve 17 communities here.
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