Los Alamos County Well Water Testing
Private-well guidance for Los Alamos County, New Mexico: USGS area-risk estimates for arsenic and nitrate, a recommended test panel, and how to get your own well tested at a New Mexico-certified lab.
Los Alamos County has a small private-well population. If you're on city (municipal) water, check your city's tap-water quality report — search by city or by ZIP code.
On one of the roughly 98 private wells in Los Alamos County? The USGS area-risk estimates below are for you.
Los Alamos County groundwater risk (area estimates)
These are modeled USGS estimates for the county area — not a measurement of your specific well.
Arsenic
area estimate5%
modeled chance a well in this area exceeds 10 µg/L (the EPA limit).
7% chance of exceeding 5 µg/L.
Most-probable concentration category: <=5 ug/L.
Nitrate
area estimate0.14 mg/L
predicted nitrate (as N) for domestic-supply depth.
This estimate is below the 10 mg/L EPA limit, but individual wells can still exceed it.
Private wells
area estimate98
people on private wells in Los Alamos County.
Roughly 39 households, estimated from the USGS modeled domestic-supply population.
Area context
Additional state-only or optional layers for Los Alamos County, shown where the data exists.
Uranium
area estimateA state-only uranium model is not available for New Mexico. See observed samples and test your own well to learn its uranium level.
Radon
area estimateA state-only radon model is not available for New Mexico. See observed samples and test your own well to learn its radon level.
Agricultural land use
area contextAbout 0% of the Los Alamos County area is row-crop farmland (USDA Cropland Data Layer). Intensively farmed row-crop land raises the likelihood of elevated nitrate in nearby groundwater, so it is a reason to include nitrate in your test panel. This is land-use context for the county area — not a measurement of nitrate in any well.
PFAS
public-system proxyNo PFAS were detected above EPA reporting limits in the 1 public water system tested in Los Alamos County under the EPA's national PFAS monitoring program (UCMR5).
This reflects PFAS detections in public water systems near Los Alamos County — a regional proxy, not a measurement of private wells. If you rely on a private well, only a lab test of your own water reveals its PFAS level.
These figures are USGS area estimates: statistical groundwater models describing how likely elevated contaminant levels are across a county. They are not designed to predict the concentration in any single well. Only testing your own well reveals its water quality.
Recommended test panel for Los Alamos County
- coliform
Coliform bacteria is recommended for every private well as the universal baseline test. The federal loan minimum (FHA, VA, USDA) tests for coliform, nitrate, nitrite, lead.
Federal FHA, VA, and USDA home loans require testing for coliform, nitrate, nitrite, lead at the point of a federally-backed loan. See the program-specific rules: FHA well test, VA well test, USDA well test.
Already have lab results? Interpret your well water test results to see how your own numbers compare to EPA limits.
How Los Alamos County compares across New Mexico
Where Los Alamos County's modeled area estimates sit relative to the other New Mexico counties in our analysis.
- Arsenicbelow the New Mexico median
Los Alamos County: 5% · New Mexico median: 9% · flagged in 14 of 33 counties.
See all New Mexico arsenic data → - Nitratebelow the New Mexico median
Los Alamos County: 0.14 mg/L · New Mexico median: 0.91 mg/L · flagged in 1 of 33 counties.
See all New Mexico nitrate data →
Prefer a Simpler Option?
Can't find a convenient local lab? Mail-in testing offers EPA-certified analysis without appointments or travel.
SimpleLab
Standard Home Water Test
$232
Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.
SimpleLab
Advanced Home Water Test
$369
Most comprehensive home water test including all standard tests plus additional parameters for ultimate peace of mind.
Tap Score
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Test
$139
Detects volatile organic compounds including industrial solvents, fuels, and chemical contaminants.
Find a state-certified lab
Test your Los Alamos County well through a lab certified by the New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau — find one in the official directory (Downloadable PDF list).
Recognize & research well-water problems
Notice a problem? Diagnose it by symptom
Learn about these contaminants in drinking water
Data sources
Los Alamos County's estimates are modeled from public federal datasets. See the data & methodology for how we build, source, and validate them.
- USGS arsenic probability-of-exceedance model
- USGS nitrate predicted concentration, domestic-supply depth
- USGS domestic (private) well population density
- USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer (CDL) 30m
- EPA UCMR5 PFAS occurrence in public water systems (Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule)
- EPA/USGS Water Quality Portal (waterqualitydata.us)
- US Census TIGER/Line county polygons
By TapWaterData Editorial · Last updated June 26, 2026.
Los Alamos County well water FAQ
How do I test my well water in Los Alamos County?
Order a sample kit covering the recommended panel for Los Alamos County (coliform), then send it to a New Mexico-certified drinking-water laboratory. Certified labs use EPA-approved methods, so the results are defensible for a federally-backed home loan. You can also use a mail-in test kit for a convenient EPA-certified analysis.
What does the USGS arsenic estimate mean for my well?
It is an area estimate, not a prediction for your specific well. The USGS model describes how likely elevated arsenic is across Los Alamos County as a whole; an individual well in the county can be much higher or much lower. Only testing your own well reveals its actual arsenic level.
How often should a private well be tested?
The CDC recommends testing private wells at least once a year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, and more often if you notice a change in taste, color, or odor, or after flooding or nearby construction.
Does New Mexico require well testing?
Federal FHA, VA, and USDA home-loan programs require a private-well water test at the point of a federally-backed loan. A state sale, rental, or recurring testing mandate was not independently verified for this state — consult your state's program.
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