skip all navigation
skip banner links
skip primary navigation

Analytical Chemistry Laboratory:
Water Quality Standards & Health Advisories

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.

From US EPA and the State of New Mexico (updated July 2022)
All values are in mg/L. (milligrams per liter = parts per million)
[PDF version available]

PARAMETER DRINKING WATER (1, 4) GROUND WATER (2) SURFACE WATER (3) STOCK (3) IRRIGATION (2, 3, 5)
Chloride 250 (s) 250      
Sulfate 250 (s) 600      
Nitrate as NO3 44 (e) 44 44    
Nitrite as NO2 3 (e) 3      
Fluoride 4 (e), 2.0 (s) 1.6      
Sodium (1) 20***        
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 500 (s) 1000     <450*  no effects,
450-2000* increasing problems,
>2000* severe limitations
Hardness (4)  ** 0-60 = soft,
61-120 = moderately hard,
121-180 = hard,
>180 = very hard
       
pH 6.5 to 8.5 (s) 6 to 9      
TRACE METALS          
Aluminum 0.05 to 0.2 (s)       5.0
Antimony 0.006 (e) 0.006 0.006    
Arsenic 0.01 (e) 0.01 0.01 0.2 0.1
Barium 2 (e) 2 2.0    
Beryllium 0.004 (e) 0.004 0.004    
Boron 7 (ha)     5.0 0.75
Cadmium 0.005 (e) 0.005 0.005 0.05 0.01
Chromium (total) 0.1 (e) 0.05 0.1 1.0 0.1
Cobalt       1.0 0.05
Copper 1.3 (g, AL), 1.0 (s) 1.0 1.3 0.5 0.2
Iron 0.3 (s) 1.0      
Lead 0.015 (AL) 0.015 0.015 0.1 5
Manganese 0.05 (s), 0.3 (lha) 0.2      
Mercury (inorganic) 0.002 (e) 0.002 0.002 0.01  
Molybdenum 0.2 (ha)       1.0
Nickel 0.7 (ha)   0.7   0.2
Selenium 0.05 (e) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.13
Silver 0.1 (s), 0.2 (ha) 0.05      
Thallium 0.002 (e) 0.002 0.002    
Uranium 0.03 (e) 0.03 0.03    
Vanadium       0.1 0.1
Zinc 5 (s), 10 (ha) 10.0 10.5 25 2

Key:

(s) - secondary drinking water regulation, nonenforceable guideline regarding cosmetic or aesthetic effects
(e) - maximum contaminant level (MCL); an enforceable standard for the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water
(ha) - USEPA health advisory of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information, expressed as a drinking water equivalent level (DWEL)
(lha) - USEPA health advisory of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information, expressed as a lifetime health advisory
(g) - USEPA maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG); a conservative non-enforceable health benchmark goal
(AL) - USEPA action level for lead and copper in tap water, related to corrosion of household plumbing

* Recommendation only.
** Provided for reference only, not an official standard or advisory
*** EPA guidance level for individuals restricted to a total sodium intake of 500 mg/day (see reference 1 above, page 12).

Back to Water Quality Evaluation Page