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Community Water System · PWS NM3567701

Kirtland Air Force Base

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87117 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 22,500 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

22,500
People served
296
EPA violations
18
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 296 drinking-water violations at Kirtland Air Force Base, 6% of them health-based - above the New Mexico per-system average.

296
Total EPA violations on record
6%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
22,500
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Kirtland Air Force Base

Kirtland Air Force Base is a federal-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 22,500 residents in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Bernalillo County) through 544 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 296 total violations for this system , of which 18 (6%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 267 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 27 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across New Mexico, EPA tracks 1,037 public water systems serving 2,027,497 people, with 154,522 cumulative violations and 38,650 health-based violations on record. About 97% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 149 violations. Statewide, 70 of 72 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (97.2%).

Kirtland Air Force Base's 296 violations sit above the New Mexico average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
22,500
Total Violations
296
Health-Based Violations
18
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Federal
Connections
544
County
Bernalillo
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
18
Monitoring Violations
267
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 27 2022
TTHM MR 27 2022
Coliform (TCR) MCL 18 2007
E. COLI MR 8 2023
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 2019
Nickel MR 4 2011
Nitrate-Nitrite MR 4 2013
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2001
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 3 2008
Combined Uranium MR 3 2008
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 3 2008
Barium MR 3 2011
Cadmium MR 3 2011
Chromium MR 3 2011
Mercury MR 3 2011
Antimony, Total MR 3 2011
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 2011
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2011
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2011
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2011
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2011
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2011
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2011
Benzene MR 3 2011
Toluene MR 3 2011
Methoxychlor MR 3 2011
Toxaphene MR 3 2011
Dalapon MR 3 2011
Endothall MR 3 2011
Glyphosate MR 3 2011

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/5/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/5/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/5/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/5/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 10/31/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 10/31/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 10/31/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 10/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 10/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 10/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 10/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 10/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 10/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 10/11/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 10/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 10/11/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 10/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 10/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 10/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Kirtland Air Force Base.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID NM3567701 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

New Mexico Drinking Water Authority

New Mexico's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find NM regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2023 E. COLI MR 8 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 3014
2022 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 27 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 2456
2022 TTHM MR 27 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 2950
2019 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 7000
2016 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 7500
2013 Nitrate-Nitrite MR 4 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1038
2011 Nickel MR 4 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1036
2011 Barium MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1010
2011 Cadmium MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1015
2011 Chromium MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1020
2011 Mercury MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1035
2011 Antimony, Total MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 1074
2011 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 2964
2011 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 2968
2011 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / NM3567701 / 2969

How Kirtland Air Force Base Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Kirtland Air Force Base New Mexico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 296 149 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 18 37.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 97.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 22,500 1,955 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,037 regulated public water systems in New Mexico.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kirtland Air Force Base water safe to drink? ▼
Kirtland Air Force Base (PWS ID: NM3567701) has 296 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 22,500 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Kirtland Air Force Base serve? ▼
Kirtland Air Force Base serves 22,500 people in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a Federal-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 544 service connections.
What type of violations does Kirtland Air Force Base have? ▼
Kirtland Air Force Base has 296 total violations: 18 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 267 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Kirtland Air Force Base water? ▼
No. Kirtland Air Force Base was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Kirtland Air Force Base use? ▼
Kirtland Air Force Base uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.