Chemistry Laboratory:
Water
Quality Limits
The table below shows the acceptable chemical limits for various uses of water. There is also a separate discussion about evaluating an laboratory analysis and a price list for these analyses.
| Parameter | Domestic (2) | Drinking (3) | Stock (4, 5) | Irrigation (4, 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anions | ||||
| Chloride | 250 (a) | 250 (a) | ||
| Sulfate | 600 (a) | 250 (a) | 1000 (4, *) | |
| Nitrate as NO3 | 45.0 | 45 | 45.0* | |
| Nitrite as NO2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
| Fluoride (Based on water temperature) |
1.8 (50.0-50.3o F.) | 4.0; 2.0 (a) | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| 1.5 (50.4-70.6o F.) | ||||
| 1.2 (70.7-90.6o F.) | ||||
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | 1000 (a) | 500 (a) | 3000* small animals | 500* no effects |
| 5000* poultry | 500-1000* affects sensitive crops | |||
| 7000* large animals | 1000-2000* affects many crops | |||
| 2000-3000* only for tolerant crops | ||||
| Hardness | 0-75 = soft | |||
| 75-150 = moderately hard | ||||
| 150-300 = hard | ||||
| >300 = extremely hard | ||||
| pH | between 6 and 9 (a) | 6.5-8.5 (a) | ||
| Trace Metals | ||||
| Aluminum | 0.05-0.26 (a) | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
| Antimony | 0.006 | |||
| Arsenic | 0.1 | 0.01 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Barium | 1.0 | 2.0 | ||
| Berylium | 0.004 | |||
| Boron | 5.0 | 0.75 | ||
| Cadmium | 0.01 | 0.005 | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Chromium (total) | 0.05 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
| Cobalt | 5.0 | 0.5 | ||
| Copper | 1.0 (a) | 1.3 (al) | 0.5 | |
| Cyanide | 0.1 | 0.2 | ||
| Iron | 1 | 0.3 | ||
| Lead | 0.05 | 0.015 (al) | 0.1 | |
| Manganese | 0.2 (a) | 0.05 (a) | <10.0 long term | |
| Mercury | 0.002 | 0.002 | 0.01 | |
| Molybdenum | 1.0 | |||
| Nickel | 0.1 | 0.2 | ||
| Selenium | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Silver | 0.05 | 0.05 | ||
| Uranium | 5.0 | 0.03 | ||
| Zinc | 10.0 | 5.0 (a) | 24 | |
Notes:
- Analysed only for parameters indicated; mg/L = milligrams per liter = parts per million.
- New Mexico groundwater standards for domestic supply. Standards are enforceable including aesthetic.
- Enforceable U.S.E.P.A. Drinking Water Standards. Secondary or aesthetic standards are only recommendations.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1973, Water Quality Criteria-1972; Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
- New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission Regulations as amended through January, 1992; New Mexico Environment Department.
- (a) = Secondary Standards are non-enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water.
- (al) = EPA Action Level
- (p) = proposed
- * Recommendations only
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801-4796
information: (575) 835-5420
fax: (575) 835-6333
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources is a research and service division of:
