Analytical Chemistry Laboratory:
Water
Quality Standards & Health Advisories
We are a research and service division of:
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 | 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 |
References:
- USEPA, 2018 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories Tables, March 2018
- New Mexico standards for groundwater of 10,000 mg/l TDS or less (20.6.2 NMAC)
- New Mexico water quality standards for interstate and intrastate surface waters (20.6.4 NMAC)
- USGS: Hardness of Water
- NMSU: Irrigation Water Analysis and Interpretation
New Mexico Dept. of Health: Water Quality or 505-827-0006 (hotline number verified Sept. 2018)
(Other useful information is available from Colorado State University: Water Quality Interpretation Tool)
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).