LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) vs ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM
Water quality comparison — risk levels, violations, PFAS records, and contaminants
Quick Answer
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM has a lower risk classification (safe). LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) has 2 open health-based violations and 62 PFAS records. ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM has 0 open health-based violations and 1508 PFAS records.
New Mexico · NM3518025
Moderate Concern
Contaminants detected within limits but elevated. Consider filtration.
2
Open violations
62
PFAS records
New Mexico · NM3510701
No Concerns Detected
Water meets all safety standards with no detected exceedances.
0
Open violations
1508
PFAS records
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) | ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM |
|---|---|---|
| State | New Mexico | New Mexico |
| Risk Level | Moderate Concern | No Concerns Detected |
| Population Served | 14,530 | 560,326 |
| Open Health Violations | 2 | 0 |
| Total Violations | 83 | 1 |
| PFAS Records | 62 | 1508 |
| Ownership | Local | Local |
| Service Type | Surface water | Surface water |
| City Served | Las Vegas | Albuquerque |
Contaminants in Violation Records
LAS VEGAS (CITY OF)
- Nitrate
- Coliform (TCR)
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM
- Nitrate
Key Differences
LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) has a moderate risk rating vs. safe for ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM.
LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) has 2 open health-based violations vs. 0 for ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM.
LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) has 62 PFAS records vs. 1508 for ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM.
What Should I Do?
If either utility shows open violations or elevated PFAS records, consider:
- Installing a reverse osmosis filter — removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, and most heavy metals.
- Requesting your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the most current test results.
- Ordering a certified lab water test if you want contaminant-specific data for your address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is safer — LAS VEGAS (CITY OF) or ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM?
ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM has a lower risk classification (safe). ALBUQUERQUE WATER SYSTEM has 0 open health-based violations compared to 2 for the other system.
What does "open health-based violation" mean?
An open health-based violation means a water system has exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or failed to meet a treatment technique — and the violation has not yet been resolved. These are the most serious type of water quality violations.
How current is this data?
Violation data comes from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), which is updated as utilities report. PFAS data comes from EPA's UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025). Risk levels are recalculated daily.
What does PWSID mean?
PWSID stands for Public Water System ID — a unique federal identifier assigned to each community water system. You can use it to look up a system in EPA's ECHO database.