Well Water in East Mountains, New Mexico

Bernalillo / Santa Fe / Torrance / Sandoval County · Population ~15,000 · Aquifer: Sandia Basin

Hardness: 232-676 PPM (13.5-39.5 gpg) — Extremely Hard

Declining Water Levels

Water tables in the Sandia Basin are declining at approximately 1.8 feet per year. Wells are going dry. When a well fails, homeowners face difficult choices: pay roughly $85 per 1,500 gallons for hauled water, spend $5,000 or more to join a water cooperative (where available), or drill a new, deeper well — with no guarantee of finding water.

As water levels drop, contaminant concentrations increase. The minerals and metals are still there; there's just less water to dilute them. A well that tested fine five years ago may not test fine today.

Water Quality

The Sandia Basin produces extremely hard water. Edgewood wells commonly test between 232 and 676 PPM (13.5 to 39.5 grains per gallon) — well into the "extremely hard" category by any standard.

But hardness is the least of the concerns here. The East Mountains have documented issues with:

• Arsenic — from the volcanic geology of the region. See our arsenic guide for details.
• Uranium — naturally occurring in the sedimentary formations
• Fluoride — often elevated above the 4.0 mg/L secondary standard
• Manganese — causes black staining, metallic taste; health concerns at high levels
• Selenium — from the local geology
• Nitrates — from septic systems, particularly in more densely developed areas
• Sulfate — causes bitter taste, laxative effects at high concentrations
• Bacteria — especially after heavy rain events

Contaminant concentrations have been increasing as water levels decline.

Testing Recommendations

Given the range of contaminants documented in the East Mountains, we recommend a comprehensive panel that covers arsenic, uranium, fluoride, manganese, selenium, nitrates, sulfate, bacteria, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. This is not a place where a basic bacteria-and-nitrate test tells you enough.

Bernalillo County is the only county in New Mexico that requires county-level well permits. If your well is in the Bernalillo County portion of the East Mountains, contact the county for permit and testing requirements.

See our testing guide for labs and free testing opportunities.

Treatment Considerations

Most East Mountains homes will benefit from at minimum a water softener for the extreme hardness. For arsenic and uranium, a point-of-use reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink is the most cost-effective first step — typically $239-$600 plus installation.

For whole-house arsenic treatment, adsorptive media systems work well but the media needs replacement every 1-3 years and works best at pH below 7.0. Test first, then choose treatment based on your specific results.

See our resources page for local treatment companies.