New Mexico faces naturally occurring arsenic and uranium contamination in groundwater, plus legacy contamination from uranium mining on Navajo Nation lands. Oklahoma deals with oil and gas industry contamination, including produced water disposal that has caused both water quality issues and induced earthquakes. Neither state has set PFAS limits beyond federal standards. Both have significant contamination risks tied to their dominant industries.
New Mexico and Oklahoma represent two different extraction economies and the water quality problems they create. New Mexico's uranium mining legacy and naturally occurring contaminants pose risks that are literally baked into the geology. Oklahoma's oil and gas industry generates billions of gallons of produced water annually that must be managed without contaminating drinking water supplies. Both states also have PFAS from military installations, though that's a secondary concern compared to their signature contamination challenges.
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New Mexico's Environment Department manages about 1,100 public water systems serving 1.6 million residents. Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality oversees roughly 1,700 systems for 3.2 million people. Both states have significant rural and tribal populations relying on small water systems with limited treatment capacity.
Check your water quality by zip code for your system's results.
New Mexico's unique contamination story is uranium. The state hosted over 4,000 uranium mines between the 1940s and 1980s, primarily on Navajo Nation land in the northwest. According to the EPA, over 500 abandoned uranium mines on Navajo land have not been cleaned up. Groundwater in affected areas contains uranium above the EPA's MCL of 30 ppb, plus radium and arsenic. Naturally occurring arsenic in the Rio Grande basin adds to the problem – the USGS has documented arsenic above 10 ppb in groundwater across much of central New Mexico.
Oklahoma's contamination challenge comes from oil and gas. The state produces roughly 400,000 barrels of oil per day along with massive volumes of produced water – salty, often radioactive water that comes up with the oil. Improper disposal of produced water has contaminated groundwater in some areas, and the practice of injecting it underground has caused induced seismicity. According to Oklahoma DEQ data, 23 public water systems reported violations related to radionuclides or total dissolved solids in 2024.
New Mexico is one of the driest states in the country, and water quantity is as much a concern as water quality. Albuquerque draws from the San Juan-Chama project (surface water) and the Middle Rio Grande aquifer. Santa Fe relies on the Santa Fe River watershed and Buckman Direct Diversion from the Rio Grande. Both cities have invested in advanced treatment, but smaller systems in rural New Mexico often lack that capacity.
Oklahoma has more abundant surface water from the Arkansas River system and numerous reservoirs. Oklahoma City's water comes from six reservoirs and generally meets all federal standards. Tulsa draws from Spavinaw Lake and Oologah Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. The state's rural systems, particularly in western Oklahoma's oil country, face more contamination risk.
Tribal water systems in both states face unique challenges. The Navajo Nation in New Mexico has areas where 30% of households lack access to running water, according to the Indian Health Service. Oklahoma's tribal nations manage their own water systems with varying levels of capacity and funding.
Neither state has set PFAS limits beyond federal standards. New Mexico has been more active on uranium and arsenic remediation, working with the EPA on Navajo uranium mine cleanup and funding arsenic treatment for small systems. Oklahoma's regulation of produced water disposal has improved after the earthquake crisis, but environmental groups argue the state still prioritizes oil and gas interests over water quality.
Oklahoma's urban systems are slightly better positioned – more abundant source water and less naturally occurring contamination. New Mexico's geology works against it, with arsenic and uranium present in groundwater even without any human activity.
For rural and tribal residents, neither state provides adequate protection. Navajo communities in New Mexico face the country's worst legacy uranium contamination. Oklahoma oil country communities face produced water risks. Both populations are underserved.
The verdict: Oklahoma's urban water is generally cleaner; New Mexico's geology creates baseline contamination challenges. Both states have significant rural water quality gaps.
Check your water quality by zip code for EPA data. New Mexico residents should check for arsenic and uranium. Oklahoma residents near oil fields should check for total dissolved solids and radionuclides.
For arsenic, uranium, and PFAS, the AquaTru reverse osmosis system removes all three. Carbon filters like the Brita Elite don't remove arsenic or uranium – RO is needed. See our water filter guide.
Detailed analysis: get a water quality PDF report. State pages: New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Is New Mexico or Oklahoma water safer? Oklahoma's urban systems generally have cleaner water due to more abundant sources and less natural contamination. New Mexico faces naturally occurring arsenic and legacy uranium mining contamination. Both states have rural water quality gaps and neither has set PFAS limits beyond federal standards.
Does New Mexico water have uranium? Some New Mexico groundwater contains naturally occurring uranium, and over 500 abandoned uranium mines on Navajo Nation land have contaminated additional water sources. The EPA MCL for uranium is 30 ppb. Some affected wells exceed this by many times.
Does Oklahoma oil drilling contaminate water? Oil and gas operations produce billions of gallons of produced water that must be properly disposed of. Improper disposal has contaminated groundwater in some Oklahoma communities. In 2024, 23 public water systems reported violations related to radionuclides or dissolved solids associated with oil and gas activity.
Is Albuquerque tap water safe? Albuquerque's water meets all federal drinking water standards. The city invested in surface water treatment from the San Juan-Chama project to supplement aquifer sources. Arsenic levels, once a concern, have been managed through treatment upgrades. Check your specific data at KnowYourExposure.com.
What filter removes uranium and arsenic? Reverse osmosis systems remove both uranium and arsenic from drinking water. The AquaTru countertop RO system handles these contaminants along with PFAS and lead. Standard carbon filters do not remove uranium or arsenic.