Tijeras residents who rely on private wells for drinking water can get their water tested for free this Saturday, May 9, at a one-day public health event.
The New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Health are hosting the water testing event from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.at the Tijeras Senior Center at 10 Tijeras Ave, Tijeras, NM 87059. Testing is free to the first 100 participants. Well water tests typically cost about $150.
Testing comes just weeks after NMED announced that water systems serving over 700 East Mountain residents had tested for high levels of PFAS, a so-called “forever chemical” linked to health effects.
High nitrate levels can pose serious health risks, especially for pregnant women and infants. These contaminants may be naturally occurring or result from sources including fertilizer, animal waste and septic tanks. Testing also measures pH levels, another key measure of safety.
“We’re offering free water testing to help private well owners who may have questions about their water quality better understand what’s in their household drinking water,” said Ground Water Quality Bureau Chief Justin Ball. “This water fair provides Bernalillo County residents with easy, affordable access to information about their private well water that they would otherwise have to pay for.”
Residents must bring their own water samples to the event. How to collect your sample:
- Let the water run for two to three minutes before collecting the sample.
- Fill a clean, odor-free glass or plastic container with at least a quart well water.
- If the home has a whole house filtration system, collect the water at the well head prior to any filtration or softener systems, if possible.
- Fill the container with water as close to the time of testing as possible.
Residents also should bring basic information about their well, including depth, depth to water, well casing material (such as steel or PVC), latitude and longitude and distance from the well to the nearest septic tank or leach field system.
Well owners who cannot attend may send a water sample with a family member or neighbor. Containers must be clearly labeled with the owner’s name, phone number, address and well information. Only water that comes from homes that rely on private wells for drinking water will be accepted. Test results will be mailed to participating households following the event within two to three weeks.
Since 2022, NMED has tested more than 800 private drinking water wells at 34 water fairs, providing $123,000 in value to New Mexico communities. NMED tracks its investments in communities as part of its performance measures and target of investing $65 million throughout the state in fiscal year 2025.
Water from public water systems (such as local water utilities) is tested periodically, and results are available on the Drinking Water Watch website.