Well Water in North Valley, New Mexico
Bernalillo County · Population Part of Albuquerque · Aquifer: Rio Grande Alluvium (shallow)
Hardness: Moderate
The North Valley of Albuquerque sits close to the Rio Grande with a shallow water table — making its wells uniquely vulnerable to surface contamination. Many older properties are still on private wells despite being within city limits. Neighboring wells can have very different water quality depending on depth and proximity to contamination sources.
Shallow Water Table Risks
The North Valley's shallow water table — often just 10-30 feet below the surface — is both a blessing and a curse. Wells are cheap and easy to drill, but shallow groundwater is far more vulnerable to contamination from what happens on the surface.
Sources of contamination in the North Valley include:
- Septic systems — older properties without sewer connections
- Agricultural runoff — the valley has a long farming history
- Urban runoff — as the area has urbanized
- Petroleum storage tanks — historical leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs)
Historical Petroleum Contamination
The North Valley has a documented history of contamination from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks. The good news: most of these have been identified and remediated. The bad news: petroleum contamination in groundwater can persist for decades, and not every site has been fully cleaned up.
The City of Albuquerque monitors approximately 130 wells within city limits, but this monitoring focuses on municipal supply wells. If you're on a private well, the monitoring doesn't cover you directly.
Well-to-Well Variability
In the North Valley, neighboring wells can have very different water quality. A contamination plume from an old gas station might affect one well and completely miss the well next door. Depth matters too — a 30-foot well and a 100-foot well on the same property can produce very different water.
This variability means you cannot assume your water is safe because a nearby well tested clean. Test your own well.
Testing Priorities
North Valley well owners should test annually for bacteria and nitrates (both are real risks with the shallow water table). Test at least once for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) if you're near any historical commercial or industrial activity.
Bernalillo County is the only county in New Mexico that requires county-level well permits. Contact the county Environmental Health Department for permit requirements and testing recommendations.
See our testing guide for labs and costs.
Every well is different. Two wells on the same street can produce completely different water. The data on this page reflects documented conditions in the North Valley area, but the only way to know what's in your water is to test it.
Sources
- City of Albuquerque — Groundwater Monitoring Program
- NMED Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau — LUST Site Remediation
- Bernalillo County Environmental Health — Well Permit Program
- USGS — Rio Grande Alluvium Water Quality