U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Data Series 629

Prepared in cooperation with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of

Surface-Water Quality in the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama,

North-Central New Mexico, During Water Years 1985–2007

Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary 

of Surface-Water Quality in the Rio Grande and 

the Rio Chama, North-Central New Mexico, 

During Water Years 1985–2007

By Sarah E. Falk, Scott K. Anderholm, and Nicholas B. Engdahl

Prepared in cooperation with the

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

Data Series 629

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011

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Suggested citation:

Falk, S.E., Anderholm, S.K., and Engdahl, N.B., 2011, Selected investigations and statistical summary of surface-water 

quality in the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama, north-central New Mexico, during water years 1985–2007: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 629, 36 p. + appendixes. 
iii

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) for supporting 

this investigation. In particular, the authors wish to acknowledge John Stomp of the ABCWUA for his foresight, guidance, and support of this investigation and other studies to help better understand the water 

resources of New Mexico.

 Various Federal and State agencies are acknowledged for providing information and data for this report. 

Specifically, we thank Los Alamos National Laboratory, the New Mexico Environment Department, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Many questions about various aspects of the data used in this report came up during analysis. The following individuals were especially helpful in clarifying information used in this report: Bill Hardesty and Jean Dewart of Los Alamos 

National Laboratory, Scott Hopkins of the New Mexico Environment Department, and Cynthia Abeyta and 

Joel Lusk of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................8

Selected Investigations of Surface-Water Quality ..................................................................................8

2007 Investigations of Surface-Water Quality ...............................................................................10

Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data............................................................10

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................34

Figures

1. U.S. Geological Survey and Los Alamos National Laboratory

water-quality stations in the study area near the Rio Grande

and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.................................................................2

2. New Mexico Environment Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service water-quality stations in the study area near the Rio Grande

and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.................................................................5

Tables

1. U.S. Geological Survey water-quality station information

near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico............................3

2. Los Alamos National Laboratory water-quality station information

near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico............................4

3. New Mexico Environment Department water-quality station information

near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico............................6
iv

4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service water-quality station information

near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico............................8

5. Primary drinking-water standards and maximum contaminant

level goals promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ........................13

6. Secondary drinking-water standards promulgated by the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and noticeable effects

above the standard...................................................................................................................16

7. Health-based screening levels developed by the

U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department

of Environmental Protection....................................................................................................17

8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ................................................................................22

9. Derived concentration guide reference values for ingested water

for operational U.S. Department of Energy facilities. .........................................................34

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Radioactivity

1 millirem (mrem) 10 microsieverts (μSv)

picocurie per liter (pCi/L) 0.037 becquerel per liter (Bq/L) 

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

(μS/cm at 25°C).

1 picocurie per liter (pCi/L) is equivalent to 10^-9 microcuries per milliliter (μCi/mL)

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L), 

micrograms per liter (μg/L), nanograms per liter (ng/L), or picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Introduction 1

Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary 

of Surface-Water Quality in the Rio Grande

and the Rio Chama, North-Central New Mexico,

During Water Years 1985–2007

By Sarah E. Falk, Scott K. Anderholm, and Nicholas B. Engdahl

Abstract

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility 

Authority (ABCWUA) is supplementing the municipal water 

supply for Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the surrounding 

area with water diverted from the Rio Grande. The distribution 

of surface water for municipal supply has raised questions 

about the quality of water in the Rio Grande and the possibility 

of contaminants in the water. The U.S. Geological Survey, in 

cooperation with ABCWUA, has compiled existing waterquality data collected on the Rio Grande and its main tributary, 

the Rio Chama, by various Federal and State agencies to 

provide a comprehensive overview of water quality in the 

Rio Grande basin upstream from Albuquerque. This report 

describes selected water-quality investigations conducted by 

various Federal and State agencies and 2007 USGS surfacewater-quality investigations and data-collection activities and 

presents a statistical summary of selected water-quality data 

collected on the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in central and 

northern New Mexico. 

Introduction 

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility 

Authority (ABCWUA) is supplementing the municipal 

water supply for Albuquerque, N. Mex., and the surrounding 

area with water diverted from the Rio Grande. Historically, 

groundwater has been pumped from the Santa Fe Group 

aquifer at a rate that has resulted in water-level declines 

in the aquifer near the metropolitan area (Bexfield and 

Anderholm, 2002). The principal component of ABCWUA’s 

strategy to obtain and develop sustainable sources of water 

is the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project, which 

includes a diversion dam, water treatment facilities, and 

a distribution system (City of Albuquerque, 1997). Water 

diverted from the Rio Grande will be treated by a “multistage 

purification process, which employs carbon filtration and 

ozone disinfection...” (Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water 

Utility Authority, 2011). The distribution of surface water for 

municipal supply has raised questions about the quality of 

water in the Rio Grande and the possibility of contaminants 

in the water.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation 

with ABCWUA, has compiled existing water-quality data 

from water year (WY) 1985 through WY 2005 (October 1, 

1985, to September 30, 2005) collected on the Rio Grande 

and its main tributary, the Rio Chama, by various Federal and 

State agencies to provide a comprehensive overview of water 

quality in the Rio Grande basin upstream of Albuquerque. The 

study area, comprising the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama 

in central and northern New Mexico (figs. 1 and 2), includes 

water-quality stations from the USGS (fig. 1 and table 1), the 

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL; fig. 1 and table 2), 

the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED; fig. 2 and 

table 3), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS; fig. 

2 and table 4). Previous investigations have analyzed water 

samples for a wide range of constituents including physical 

properties, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, various 

radionuclides, and various organic compounds including 

explosives, herbicides, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, 

and pharmaceuticals.
2 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

blw Cochiti (USGS)

Cochiti (USGS) 1

Cochiti (USGS) 2

Cochiti (USGS) 3

Cochiti (USGS) 5 

Cochiti (USGS) 4

White Rock (LANL)

White Rock (USGS)

Mortandad (LANL)

Mortendad (USGS)

Otowi (USGS)

Otowi bridge

Otowi, width

Otowi, bank

S C creek upper Otowi, bank

Santa Clara (USGS)

San Juan

Chamita, bank

Chamita (LANL)

Chamita (USGS)

Taos Junction (USGS)

Embudo, bank

Embudo (LANL)

Albuquerque 

metropolitan area

Sandia Pueblo

Cochiti

Reservoir

Embudo (USGS)

Abiquiu Reservoir

SANDOVAL

SANTA FE

BERNALILLO

LOS ALAMOS

TAOS

RIO ARRIBA

TORRANCE

Los Alamos 

National Laboratory

Rio Grande

Rio Chama

Taos Junction (NMED)

Rio Bravo

at Alameda

Albuquerque

near Alameda

Abiquiu (USGS)

Bernalillo (USGS) San Felipe (USGS)

Ditch

Frijoles

Bernalillo (LANL)

Frijoles, bank

Frijoles, width

Cochiti (LANL) 4

Cochiti (LANL) 3

Cochiti (LANL) 2

Cochiti (LANL) 1

blw Cochiti (LANL)

106°30' 106°0'

36°0'

35°30'

35°0'

EXPLANATION

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-quality station name (table 1)

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) water-quality station name (table 2)

0 5 10 MILES

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1999, 1:100,000

County line derived from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1994, TIGER/Line files, digital data, 1:100,000

Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 13N projection and North American Datum of 1983

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

New Mexico

Map 

area

Elephant 

Butte 

Reservoir

Figure 1. U.S. Geological Survey and Los Alamos National Laboratory water-quality stations in the study area near

the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.

Figure 1. U.S. Geological Survey and Los Alamos National Laboratory water-quality stations in the study area near the Rio Grande and 

the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.
Introduction 3

Table 1. U.S. Geological Survey water-quality station information near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central

New Mexico.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; nr, near; blw, below; Hwy, Highway]

USGS station 

number USGS station name Report station name (fig. 1)

Latitude 

(NAD 83)

Longitude 

(NAD 83)

08317300 Cochiti Lake near Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (USGS) 1 35° 40' 41" 106° 18' 55"

354015106180010 Cochiti Lake delta nr Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (USGS) 5 35° 40' 15" 106° 18' 02"

08313408 Cochiti Lake (site D) nr Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (USGS) 4 35° 38' 57" 106° 18' 41"

08313412 Cochiti Lake (site C) nr Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (USGS) 3 35° 38' 39" 106° 18' 55"

08317298 Cochiti Lake (site B) nr Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (USGS) 2 35° 37' 10" 106° 19' 00"

08287000 Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam, N. Mex. Abiquiu (USGS) 36° 14' 13" 106° 24' 59"

08290000 Rio Chama nr Chamita, N. Mex. Chamita (USGS) 36° 04' 22" 106° 06' 34"

08276500 Rio Grande blw Taos Junction Bridge near Taos, N. Mex. Taos Junction (USGS) 36° 19' 12" 105° 45' 16"

08279500 Rio Grande at Embudo, N. Mex. Embudo (USGS) 36° 12' 20" 105° 57' 51"

08281100 Rio Grande above San Juan Pueblo, N. Mex. San Juan 36° 03' 25" 106° 04' 56"

08291600 Rio Grande at Santa Clara, N. Mex. Santa Clara (USGS) 35° 58' 28" 106° 04' 43"

08313000 Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge, N. Mex. Otowi (USGS) 35° 52' 28" 106° 08' 30"

354936106101110 Rio Grande at mouth of Mortendad Canyon, N. Mex. Mortendad (USGS) 35° 49' 36" 106° 10' 13" 

08313268 Rio Grande near White Rock, N. Mex. White Rock (USGS) 35° 46' 51" 106° 12' 23"

08317400 Rio Grande below Cochiti Dam, N. Mex. blw Cochiti (USGS) 35° 37' 04" 106° 19' 25"

08319000 Rio Grande at San Felipe, N. Mex. San Felipe (USGS) 35° 26' 40" 106° 26' 22"

351921106332710 Rio Grande at Hwy 44 at Bernalillo, N. Mex. Bernalillo (USGS) 35° 19' 21" 106° 33' 29" 

08329918 Rio Grande at Alameda Bridge at Alameda, N. Mex. at Alameda 35° 11' 49" 106° 38' 27"

08329928 Rio Grande nr Alameda, N. Mex. near Alameda 35° 10' 55" 106° 39' 04"

08330000 Rio Grande at Albuquerque, N. Mex. Albuquerque 35° 05' 21" 106° 40' 49"

08330150 Rio Grande at Rio Bravo Bridge near Albuquerque, N. Mex. Rio Bravo 35° 01' 59" 106° 40' 25"
4 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 2. Los Alamos National Laboratory water-quality station information near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central 

New Mexico.

[Crk, creek; LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; wdth intgrt, width integrated]

LANL station 

synonym

LANL station name Report station name 

(fig. 1)

Latitude 

(NAD 83)

Longitude 

(NAD 83)

SUOC Cochiti Upper Cochiti (LANL) 1 35° 40' 26" 106° 18' 24"

SMOC Cochiti Middle Cochiti (LANL) 3 35° 38' 53" 106° 18' 46"

SLOC Cochiti Lower Cochiti (LANL) 4 35° 37' 40" 106° 19' 04"

WALC Cochiti Lake (site A) near Cochiti Pueblo, N. Mex. Cochiti (LANL) 2 35° 37' 06" 106° 18' 56"

SATI Rio Chama at Chamita Chamita (LANL) 36° 04' 23" 106° 06' 43"

WCCR Rio Chama at Chamita (bank) Chamita, bank 36° 04' 23" 106° 06' 43"

SODU Rio Grande at Embudo Embudo (LANL) 36° 12' 19" 105° 57' 50"

WEGR Rio Grande at Embudo (bank) Embudo, bank 36° 12' 19" 105° 57' 50"

WUOR Rio Grande at S C Crk SC creek 35° 57' 57" 106° 04' 43"

WUOR Rio Grande at Otowi Upper (bank) upper Otowi, bank 35° 52' 31" 106° 08' 29"

WBOR Rio Grande at Otowi (bank) Otowi, bank 35° 52' 29" 106° 08' 32"

WIOR Rio Grande at Otowi (wdth intgrt) Otowi, width 35° 52' 29" 106° 08' 31"

WOGR Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge, N. Mex. Otowi bridge 35° 52' 29" 106° 08' 32"

STMR Rio Grande at Mortandad Mortandad (LANL) 35° 49' 40" 106° 10' 16"

SRWGR Rio Grande near White Rock White Rock (LANL) 35° 46' 51" 106° 12' 23"

PRGF Rio Grande at Frijoles Frijoles 35° 45' 13" 106° 15' 12"

WBFR Rio Grande at Frijoles (bank) Frijoles, bank 35° 45' 13" 106° 15' 12"

WIFR Rio Grande at Frijoles (wdth intgrt) Frijoles, width 35° 45' 12" 106° 15' 11"

WCGR Rio Grande by Ditch Headgate Ditch1 35° 37' 30"2 105° 40' 38"2

WCGR Rio Grande below Cochiti blw Cochiti (LANL) 35° 37' 03" 106° 19' 28"

SBGR Rio Grande at Bernalillo Bernalillo (LANL) 35° 19' 21" 106° 33' 30"

1

 Station not shown in figure 1.

2

 Location that was provided by LANL is not located on Rio Grande.
Introduction 5

Albuquerque

metropolitan area

Abiquiu Reservoir

SANDOVAL

SANTA FE

BERNALILLO

LOS ALAMOS

TAOS

RIO ARRIBA

TORRANCE

Rio Grande

Rio Chama

Taos Junction (NMED)

Chama

Valdez 1

Galisteo

Espanola

Valdez 2

RRWWTF3 1

RRWWTF2 1

Alameda 2

RRWWTF2 2

Alameda 1

abv Embudo

SF Lagoons

Highway 84

Highway 285

Highway 44 2

blw SF River

Highway 44 1

N San Felipe

Otowi (NMED)

Abiquiu (NMED)

Embudo 

(NMED) 1

Interstate 25 2

Embudo 

(NMED) 2

Interstate 25 1

Cochiti (NMED) 2

Cochiti (NMED) 1

White Rock (NMED)

Angostura (NMED) 1

Taos Junction (NMED)

Angostura (NMED) 2

Santa Clara (NMED)

Cochiti outfall 1

San Felipe (NMED)

Cochiti outfall 2

Cochiti (NMED) 3

South Cochiti

Espanola WWTP

abv SF River

Highway 74 2

Highway 74 1

RRWWTF3 2

La Orilla

106°30' 106°0'

36°0'

35°30'

35°0'

EXPLANATION

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) water-quality station name (table 4)

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) water-quality station name (table 3)

0 5 10 MILES

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

Figure 2. New Mexico Environment Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service water-quality stations 

in the study area near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1999, 1:100,000

County line derived from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1994, TIGER/Line files, digital data, 1:100,000

Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 13N projection and North American Datum of 1983

New Mexico

Map 

area

Elephant 

Butte 

Reservoir

Figure 2. New Mexico Environment Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service water-quality stations in the study area near the

Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in north-central New Mexico.
6 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 3. New Mexico Environment Department water-quality station information near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in

north-central New Mexico.—Continued

[NMED, New Mexico Environment Department; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; L, USEPA Legacy 

STORET database; M, USEPA Modernized STORET database; N, north; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; blw, below; abv, above; @, at; Hwy, Highway; Cr., 

Creek; STP, Sewage Treatment Plant; yds, yards; WWTP, Waste Water Treatment Plant; SF, Santa Fe; WWTF, Waste Water Treatment Facility]

NMED station 

identification

USEPA 

database NMED station name Report station name (fig. 2)

Latitude 

(NAD 83)

Longitude 

(NAD 83)

CBC L Cochiti Lake near Bland Canyon Cochiti (NMED) 1 35° 40' 27" 106° 18' 30"

URG109.001512 L Cochiti Lake shallow N of Tetilla boat ramp Cochiti (NMED) 2 35° 39' 03" 106° 18' 31"

COD L Cochiti Lake at the dam Cochiti (NMED) 3 35° 37' 00" 106° 19' 19"

URG113.008025 L Rio Chama below Abiquiui Dam at USGS Gage Abiquiu (NMED) 36° 14' 12" 106° 24' 59"

URG113.008020 L Rio Chama at US Highway 84 bridge near Abiquiu Highway 84 36° 12' 33" 106° 19' 28"

URG113.004510 L Rio Chama at US Highway 285 at USGS Gage Highway 285 36° 04' 26" 106° 06' 42"

TJB L Rio Grande blw Taos Junc bridge Taos Junction (NMED) 36° 19' 12" 105° 45' 14"

28RGRAND628.0 M Rio Grande above Embudo Creek abv Embudo 36° 12' 55" 105° 53' 49"

28RGRAND593.7 M Rio Grande at Embudo Station Embudo (NMED) 1 36° 12' 20" 105° 57' 49"

URG111.021035 L Rio Grande at the Embudo Gaging Station Embudo (NMED) 2 36° 12' 20" 105° 57' 49"

28RGRAND572.8 M Rio Grande at Highway 74 near San Juan Pueblo Highway 74 1 36° 03' 58" 106° 04' 34"

URG111.021025 L Rio Grande at San Juan Pueblo at Hwy 74 Bridge Highway 74 2 36° 03' 58" 106° 04' 34"

28RGRAND569.4 M Rio Grande below Rio Chama Chama 36° 02' 23" 106° 05' 17"

28RGRAND565.5 M Rio Grande above Espanola at Valdez Bridge Valdez 1 36° 00' 27" 106° 04' 20"

URG111.004407 L Rio Grange abv Espanola at Valdez Bridge Valdez 2 36° 00' 27" 106° 04' 20"

URG111.003903 L Rio Grande 1/4 mile upstream of Santa Clara Cr. Santa Clara (NMED) 36° 00' 27" 106° 04' 20"

URG20 L Rio Grande above Espanola STP Espanola 35° 59' 12" 106° 04' 17"

URG111.004404 L Rio Grande 300 yds below Espanola WWTP Outfall Espanola WWTP 35° 59' 07" 106° 04' 30"

URG111.003115 L Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge Otowi (NMED) 35° 52' 29" 106° 08' 30"

28RGRAND533.6 M Rio Grande at USGS Gage in White Rock Canyon 

(near Water Can)

White Rock (NMED) 35° 47' 05" 106° 12' 05"

MRG1 L Rio Grande at Cochiti Dam Outfall Cochiti outfall 1 35° 37' 05" 106° 19' 24"

30RGRAND507.2 M Rio Grande at USGS Gage below Cochiti Reservoir 

Outlet

Cochiti outfall 2 35° 37' 04" 106° 19' 24"

URG108.001060 L Rio Grande below Santa Fe River blw SF River 35° 36' 28" 106° 18' 54"

URG108.001080 L Rio Grande above Santa Fe River abv SF River 35° 35' 53" 106° 20' 20"

URG108.001020 L Rio Grande at Cochiti South Boundary South Cochiti 35° 35' 17" 106° 18' 22"

URG108.001005 L Rio Grande above Galisteo Creek Galisteo 35° 34' 56" 106° 16' 49"

URG108.000475 L Rio Grande at San Felipe N Boundary N San Felipe 35° 32' 53" 106° 22' 27"
Introduction 7

Table 3. New Mexico Environment Department water-quality station information near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in

north-central New Mexico.—Continued

[NMED, New Mexico Environment Department; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; L, USEPA Legacy 

STORET database; M, USEPA Modernized STORET database; N, north; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; blw, below; abv, above; @, at; Hwy, Highway; Cr., 

Creek; STP, Sewage Treatment Plant; yds, yards; WWTP, Waste Water Treatment Plant; SF, Santa Fe; WWTF, Waste Water Treatment Facility]

NMED station 

identification

USEPA 

database NMED station name Report station name (fig. 2)

Latitude 

(NAD 83)

Longitude 

(NAD 83)

URG108.000415 L Rio Grande at San Felipe Pueblo San Felipe (NMED) 35° 26' 39" 106° 26' 23"

URG108.000405 L Rio Grande below San Felipe Lagoons SF Lagoons 35° 25' 02" 106° 27' 28"

32RGRAND473.2 M Rio Grande Below Angostura Diversion Works Angostura (NMED) 1 35° 22' 45" 106° 29' 41"

MRG5 L Rio Grande at Angostura Diversion Dam Angostura (NMED) 2 35° 22' 45" 106° 29' 40"

MRG105.005765 L Rio Grande at US Highway 44 Bridge Highway 44 1 35° 19' 19" 106° 33' 23"

32RGRAND464.2 M Rio Grande above Highway 44 Bridge Highway 44 2 35° 19' 19" 106° 33' 23"

32RGRAND458.0 M Rio Grande above Rio Rancho WWTF #3 RRWWTF3 1 35° 16' 58" 106° 35' 49"

MRG105.005755 L Rio Grande above RRU WWTF #3 Discharge RRWWTF3 2 35° 16' 58" 106° 35' 49"

32RGRAND455.1 M Rio Grande above Rio Rancho WWTF #2 RRWWTF2 1 35° 15' 23" 106° 35' 37"

MRG105.005749 L Rio Grande Upstream from RRU WWTF#2 Discharge RRWWTF2 2 35° 15' 23" 106° 35' 37"

MRG22B L Rio Grande at Alameda Bridge (Corrales Bridge) Alameda 1 35° 11' 51" 106° 38' 30"

32RGRAND445.4 M Rio Grande above Alameda Bridge Alameda 2 35° 11' 51" 106° 38' 30"

MRG015 L Rio Grande at Interstate 25 Bridge Interstate 25 1 34° 56' 58" 106° 40' 49"

32RGRAND413.2 M Rio Grande above I-25 Bridge Interstate 25 2 34° 56' 58" 106° 40' 49"
8 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Purpose and Scope

This report describes selected water-quality investigations 

conducted by various Federal and State agencies and 

2007 USGS surface-water-quality investigations and datacollection activities and presents a statistical summary of 

selected water-quality data collected on the Rio Grande and 

its main tributary, the Rio Chama, in central and northern 

New Mexico. Data included in this report were collected by 

the USGS, the LANL, the NMED, and the USFWS. Results 

of selected water analyses are compared to water-quality 

standards. The water-quality data included in this report do not 

represent finished drinking-water samples, and any measured 

concentration that exceeds a Federal or State standard does not 

indicate a violation of drinking-water standards. The planned 

treatment process may reduce or eliminate many constituent 

concentrations detected in untreated surface-water samples, 

including bacteria and viruses.

Selected Investigations of 

Surface-Water Quality

In 1934, the U.S. Salinity Laboratory initiated a 30-year 

study to measure the quality of water in the Rio Grande, to 

determine the salt burden of the Rio Grande, and to calculate 

the salt-balance conditions along the Rio Grande (Wilcox, 

1968). Data were collected during that study by the U.S. 

Bureau of Reclamation, the International Boundary and Water 

Commission, the USGS, and the U.S. Salinity Laboratory. 

A summary report was published in 1968 that included data 

and the calculated salt balances for the Rio Grande from 

Otowi Bridge, N. Mex., to Fort Quitman, Tex. (Wilcox, 1968). 

Wilcox (1968) found that the concentration of ions in water 

typically increased downstream and that salt balances in 

individual basins generally were positive (more salt entered 

the basin than was removed) during years of below normal 

streamflow and generally were negative during years of above 

normal streamflow. 

Wilkins (1986) published a report summarizing the 

results of the Southwest Alluvial basins portion of the 

USGS Regional Aquifer-System Analysis program. Figures 

showing average surface-water quality for selected sites on 

the Rio Grande upstream of Fort Quitman were included and 

indicated that concentrations of analytes generally increased 

downstream from the headwaters and that upstream from 

Albuquerque calcium and bicarbonate were the principal 

dissolved constituents. 

In 1992, the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment 

Program (NAWQA) initiated a series of studies to assess the 

quality of groundwater and surface water in the Rio Grande 

Valley from the headwaters to El Paso, Tex. Data on surfacewater quality were collected at selected sites monthly and 

during synoptic studies to determine composition of the water 

and to assess the correlation between land use and surfacewater quality. From 1992 to 1995, surface-water samples 

were collected at numerous locations in the Rio Grande basin 

and were analyzed for various constituents including trace 

elements, nutrients, and pesticides. 

Anderholm and others (1995) summarized available 

nutrient, suspended sediment, and pesticide data for the 

Rio Grande from the headwaters to El Paso. They found 

that nutrient concentrations generally were small upstream 

of Albuquerque. Surface-water samples were analyzed for 

a range of chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated 

biphenyls, organophosphorus insecticides, and herbicides. 

Of the 5,192 analyses for individual compounds, 

98 percent of the results were censored, and DDT 

(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and its degradation products 

(diazinon and 2,4-D) were the most commonly detected 

pesticides (Anderholm and others, 1995). Carter (1997) 

presented the results of bed sediment and fish tissue sampling 

and reported that DDT and DDT-degradation compounds 

were common in fish tissue but seldom detected in bed 

sediment. Miller and others (1997) presented data collected 

during a synoptic study of trace element concentrations in 

surface water upstream of Albuquerque, and Taylor and others 

(2001) discussed the results of the sampling. Taylor and 

others (2001) indicated that runoff from the Creede mining 

district near the headwaters of the Rio Grande contributed 

to the concentration of dissolved trace elements in the Rio 

Grande for a distance of about 100 miles downstream. The 

Red River mining district did not appear to contribute to the 

concentration of dissolved trace elements in the Rio Grande. 

Taylor and others (2001) reported that, with the exception 

of cadmium at one site near the Creede mining district, no 

concentration of trace elements exceeded USEPA primary 

drinking-water standards. Healy (1997) discussed the results 

of monthly surface-water sampling along the Rio Grande. 

Healy (1997) found that dissolved-ion concentrations 

generally increased downstream as the result of natural 

sources, irrigation-return flow, wastewater treatment plant 

inflow, and urban runoff. Healy (1997) also noted that five 

pesticides including diazinon, s-Ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate 

(EPTC), malathion, simazine, and tebuthiuron were detected 

Table 4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service water-quality station 

information near the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama in northcentral New Mexico.

[USFWS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; NAD 83, North American Datum 

of 1983]

USFWS station name

Report

station name 

(fig. 2)

Latitude 

(NAD 83)

Longitude 

(NAD 83)

Rio Grande at La Orilla, 

N. Mex.

La Orilla 35° 09' 22" 106° 40' 17"
Selected Investigations of Surface-Water Quality 9

at amounts greater than the method detection limit in samples 

collected at sample site Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge. Moore 

and Anderholm (2002) evaluated spatial and temporal 

variations in dissolved solids, nitrate, total phosphorus, and 

suspended sediment concentrations and loads; they determined 

that ion concentration and load generally increase downstream 

from the New Mexico-Colorado State line as a result 

of increased streamflow. 

The USGS, in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque, 

conducted a study to measure concentrations of dissolved 

trace elements and calculate instantaneous loads of selected 

trace elements and other constituents in the Rio Grande (Kelly 

and Taylor, 1996). Surface-water samples were collected at 

seven sites on the Rio Grande from near Bernalillo, N. Mex., 

to upstream of Isleta Diversion Dam, N. Mex., from May 

to October 1994 (Kelly and Taylor, 1996). Kelly and Taylor 

(1996) concluded that dissolved concentrations of trace 

elements generally increased downstream of the Albuquerque 

Wastewater Treatment Facility, that concentrations of 

dissolved trace elements did not significantly increase 

downstream of the effluent channel during periods of high 

flow, and that concentrations of dissolved trace elements 

increased downstream from Bernalillo to Isleta Diversion Dam 

during periods of low flow. Kelly and Taylor (1996) also noted 

that all measured concentrations were less than New Mexico 

water-quality standards for water designated as domestic or 

livestock supply.

Eight sites on the Rio Grande from the Pueblo of San 

Felipe, N. Mex., to Los Lunas, N. Mex., were sampled 

quarterly from October 1994 to August 1996 as part of a 

larger study conducted by the USGS. The purpose of that 

study was to determine ambient concentrations and loads of 

trace elements in the Rio Grande and to determine the mean 

concentrations of inorganic and organic forms of arsenic in 

the edible parts of fish tissue (Wilcox, 1997). Wilcox (1997) 

determined that dissolved-solids concentrations and dissolvedarsenic concentrations increased downstream from the Rio 

Grande at San Felipe Pueblo to Los Lunas, that nearly all 

arsenic measured in the Rio Grande was in the dissolved 

phase, and that major ion and trace element concentrations 

generally were greatest in outfall from wastewater 

treatment facilities. 

The USGS, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and 

local agencies, conducted a 6-year (1995–2001) study of the 

Middle Rio Grande basin with the objective of improving the 

understanding of the hydrology, geology, and land-surface 

characteristics of the basin (Bartolino and Cole, 2002). 

Surface-water samples were collected from the Rio Grande, 

tributaries to the Rio Grande, irrigation canals, and surface 

drains (Plummer and others, 2004). Plummer and others 

(2004) concluded that isotopic variations in the Rio Grande 

are caused by seasonal variation in source waters. Measured 

tritium concentrations in the Rio Grande at Alameda, N. Mex., 

ranged from 7.2 to 11 tritium units (TU) and showed a distinct 

increase in concentration during summer 1997 (Plummer and 

others, 2004). Major and minor trace element data are further 

detailed in Plummer and others (2004). 

The State of New Mexico initiated a survey to measure 

concentrations of pharmaceutical residuals in water from 

various locations across the State (McQuillan and others, 

2002). Water samples were collected from 15 sewage effluent 

locations, 23 surface-water locations, 9 groundwater locations, 

and 2 public drinking-water supply systems; these samples 

were analyzed for various analgesics, anticonvulsants, 

antidepressants, anti-inflammatory compounds, hormones, 

antibiotics, caffeine, and tamoxifen (McQuillan and others, 

2002). All sewage effluent samples in the Rio Grande 

watershed above Albuquerque contained at least one drug 

residue; an antidepressant was detected in a sample collected 

at Buckman Crossing, and a hormone and esterone were 

detected downstream of the Albuquerque wastewater treatment 

facility (McQuillan and others, 2002). 

Results presented in a USFWS draft report show a 

small number of volatile organic compounds, pesticides, 

herbicides, explosives, and pharmaceuticals detected in water 

samples at levels greater than laboratory reporting limits 

or method detection (Abeyta and Lusk, 2004). Physical 

property measurements across channel transects indicated 

increased variability near the riverbanks, and physical 

property measurements from continuous monitoring probes 

indicated diurnal temperature variation and wide variation 

in specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity 

(Abeyta and Lusk, 2004). 

In 2000 and 2001, after the Cerro Grande fire near 

Los Alamos, N. Mex., the USGS collected surface-water 

samples from the Rio Grande and Cochiti Reservoir to 

monitor storm runoff events in watersheds affected by the 

fire. Concentrations of radionuclides including cesium-137, 

strontium-90, plutonium-238, and plutonium-239/240 

measured in the Rio Grande after major storm events in 

2001 and 2003 were greater than concentrations measured 

in base flow (Gallaher and Koch, 2004, p. 156–157). 

Sediment samples collected from Cochiti Reservoir after 

the fire indicated increased concentrations of cesium-137, 

plutonium-238, and plutonium-239 (Gallaher and Koch, 

2004). Additional results are summarized in Gallaher 

and Koch (2004). 

Langman and Anderholm (2004) described the effects 

of reservoir installation and operation and the introduction 

of water from the San Juan-Chama Project (SJCP) on water 

quality and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Rio 

Grande and Rio Chama. The authors concluded that extreme 

streamflow decreased and that median streamflow increased 

after installation of dams and the addition of water from the 

SJCP. Langman and Anderholm (2004) also concluded that 

reservoirs attenuated the water-quality dilution from snowmelt 

runoff and that the influence of the SJCP and reservoirs 

diminished downstream. 

Passell and others (2004, 2005) used water-quality 

data collected from 1975 to 1999 by the USGS on the Rio 

Grande to determine spatial and temporal trends for specific 
10 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

conductance; total dissolved solids; pH; major ions including 

calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, fluoride, 

sulfate, bicarbonate, and silicate; and nutrients including total 

organic carbon, ammonium plus organic nitrogen, ammonium, 

nitrate plus nitrite, phosphorus, and orthophosphate. The 

water-quality data were collected as part of the USGS’s 

National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) 

and NAWQA. Temporal trends generally indicated improved 

quality of the water over time likely because of improved 

water treatment (Passell and others, 2004, 2005). Seasonal 

variation in water quality was correlated with seasonal 

variation in discharge, suggesting that improved water quality 

was partially caused by dilution from increased discharge 

(Passell and others, 2004, 2005). Spatial trends indicated 

that pH, major ion, and nutrient concentrations increased 

downstream of Albuquerque and likely were affected by 

effluent discharge, by river geomorphology, and possibly 

by discharge of saline groundwater to the river (Passell and 

others, 2004, 2005). 

In 2002 and 2003, the LANL conducted a study of 

polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in the Rio 

Grande upstream and downstream of the laboratory boundary 

(Gonzalez and Montoya, 2005). Samples were collected by 

using semipermeable membrane devices. PCB concentrations 

in the Rio Grande upstream of Cochiti Reservoir were less 

than concentrations downstream of the reservoir, and PCB 

concentrations were similar upstream and downstream of the 

laboratory boundary (Gonzalez and Montoya, 2005). The 

report concluded that the LANL did not contribute to PCB 

concentrations in the Rio Grande during the sampling periods.

Langman and Nolan (2005) characterized streamflow and 

water-quality trends of the Rio Grande and Rio Chama during 

WYs 1985 to 2002 and concluded that streamflow in the Rio 

Grande and Rio Chama follows seasonal and climatic patterns 

and that water quality generally decreases downstream as 

indicated by an increase in specific conductance downstream. 

Langman and Nolan (2005) determined that water quality in 

the Rio Grande and the Rio Chama was affected by reservoir 

management and groundwater inflows. The authors noted 

that median concentrations of trace elements and maximum 

concentrations of radionuclides and anthropogenic compounds 

did not exceed drinking-water standards (Langman 

and Nolan, 2005).

2007 Investigations of Surface-Water Quality 

The USGS, in cooperation with the ABCWUA, 

conducted several investigations on the Rio Grande and its 

tributaries in 2007. Water samples were collected at four sites 

on the Rio Grande, at one site on the Rio Chama, and at one 

site on the Jemez River to evaluate water-quality trends and 

determine concentrations of selected trace elements, organic 

compounds, and radionuclides. Samples were collected 

three times per year at the sites on the Rio Grande and Rio 

Chama and once per year on the Jemez River. Continuous 

specific conductance and water temperature were measured 

at three sites on the Rio Grande and at three sites on the Rio 

Chama to determine short-term water-quality variations and 

the effects of snowmelt and summer thunderstorm runoff, 

operation of reservoirs, and the introduction of SJCP water 

on water quality. Water-quality profiles were measured in 

Abiquiu and Cochiti Reservoirs to determine variations in 

water quality throughout those reservoirs. Data were evaluated 

to determine travel times in the Rio Grande downstream from 

Cochiti Reservoir.

Statistical Summary of Selected 

Surface-Water-Quality Data 

The surface-water-quality data compiled for this 

report—collected by the USGS, the LANL, the NMED, 

and the USFWS—either were requested from the collecting 

agency or were obtained from an agency-supported database. 

Data that were not relevant to the study were removed; these 

data included those for sites outside the study area, sites 

that were not located on the main stem of the Rio Grande 

or the Rio Chama, samples that were collected before WY 

1985 or after WY 2005, samples of media other than water, 

and quality-control samples such as blanks and replicates. 

Additional filtering criteria (detailed below) differed for each 

database. The authors assumed that each agency had reviewed 

their data prior to release; thus, the data compiled for this 

report were not reviewed for accuracy or correctness by the 

authors, and no attempt was made by the authors to evaluate 

quality-control samples.

The USGS has collected data as part of various Federal, 

State, and municipal projects with the focus of long-term 

monitoring of water quality. Data collection included many 

water-resources and water-quality studies conducted in 

cooperation with the City of Albuquerque and ABCWUA. 

Data were collected by following protocols outlined in the 

USGS National Field Manual for the Collection of WaterQuality Data (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated), 

and water-quality constituents were analyzed by following 

the USGGS National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver, 

Colo., procedure outlined in the USGS Techniques of WaterResources Investigations Book 5: Laboratory Analysis (U.S. 

Geological Survey, variously dated) Details of individual 

studies are provided herein in the section “Selected 

Investigations of Surface-Water Quality.”

Data collected by the USGS were retrieved from the 

National Water Information System (NWIS) on December 

28, 2006, by hydrologic unit code (HUC) for the Rio Grande 

and the Rio Chama including HUCs 13020101, 13020102, 

and 13020201 through 13020211. Data that were removed 

included data that were not relevant to the study, results 

that were flagged as erroneous, and invalid data such as 

negative or zero values for analytes other than radionuclides 

(which can have negative values). Analytes determined by 
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 11

multiple methods (alkalinity or acid-neutralizing capacity 

and bicarbonate) were combined. All sites located on Cochiti 

Reservoir were combined. 

The LANL has established an environmental surveillance 

program that includes annual sampling of water, air, and soil 

in areas possibly affected by laboratory activities. As part 

of the annual surveillance, the LANL collects surface-water 

samples on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama upstream of the 

laboratory boundary to characterize regional background 

conditions and downstream of the laboratory boundary to 

characterize the effect of laboratory activities on regional 

surface-water quality (Los Alamos National Laboratory, 

2005). Water-quality samples (generally dip samples collected 

from the bank) are analyzed for a variety of constituents 

including general chemistry, major ions, trace elements, 

radionuclides, and a range of organic compounds including 

explosives (Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2005). Results 

from environmental monitoring at the LANL are published in 

an annual report that characterizes environmental management 

performance, summarizes environmental occurrences and 

responses, demonstrates compliance with applicable standards, 

and emphasizes significant programs and efforts (Los Alamos 

National Laboratory, 2005).

Water-quality data collected by the LANL were obtained 

from the Sandia Tritium workbook in the Oracle Discoverer 

interface of the LANL Water Quality Database, accessed at 

http://wqdbworld.lanl.gov/ on November 26, 2006. Data were 

retrieved for relevant surface-water sites (location type code 

“WCS” described as Watercourse) on the Rio Grande and 

Rio Chama and all sites on Cochiti Reservoir. Data that were 

removed included data that were not relevant to the study, 

results for which the method detection limit was greater than 

the reported result, results that did not indicate whether the 

sample was filtered or unfiltered, results that were flagged as 

erroneous, and invalid data such as negative or zero values for 

analytes other than radionuclides (which can have negative 

values). All sites located on Cochiti Reservoir were combined.

The NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB), 

under the New Mexico Water Quality Act and the Federal 

Clean Water Act, established monitoring programs to assess 

the quality of surface water, to develop and update waterquality standards and discharge permits, to identify and 

prioritize water-quality problems, to develop total daily 

maximum load standards, and to assess existing water-quality 

controls and wetland restoration projects (New Mexico 

Environment Department, 2006). The monitoring program is 

rotated among water basins on an 8-year cycle that includes 

monthly sampling of rivers and streams from spring to fall 

and seasonal sampling of reservoirs and lakes (New Mexico 

Environment Department, 2006). Samples are analyzed 

for parameters that have applicable standards, and selected 

samples are analyzed for major ions, trace elements, and other 

toxic substances (New Mexico Environment Department, 

2006). Samples are collected by using methods detailed in 

various SWQB publications (New Mexico Environment 

Department, 2006). Results from the surveys are described in 

various reports that are available from the NMED. 

Water-quality data collected by the NMED were obtained 

from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

STORET Legacy (Legacy) and Modernized STORET 

(Modern) databases, accessed at http://www.epa.gov/storet/

dbtop.html on November 17, 2006. Data for Bernalillo, Los 

Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Taos Counties 

were retrieved from the Legacy database, and data for the 

entire State of New Mexico was retrieved from the Modern 

database. Data from the Legacy and Modern databases were 

combined to generate a complete dataset from the NMED. 

Sample locations were combined by matching station 

names between the datasets, and analytes were combined 

by matching parameter names between the datasets. Some 

analyte matches required conversion of the reported analyte 

unit to ensure that units matched between databases, and if 

units were missing, they were determined either from the 

listed USGS parameter code or from the listed method code. 

Sample fractions were separated into dissolved and total, 

which included total, whole, total recoverable, and whole 

recoverable. Data not relevant to the study were removed. All 

sites located on Cochiti Reservoir were combined.

In 2002, the USFWS began an assessment of the effect 

of water-quality conditions on the health of the silvery 

minnow (Hybognathus amarus) in the Middle Rio Grande 

(Abeyta and Lusk, 2004). Samples were collected from 14 

sites along the Rio Grande between the southern border 

of Sandia Pueblo and the northern edge of Elephant Butte 

Reservoir. Field parameters, including water temperature, 

pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, 

were measured, and composite samples for laboratory 

analysis were collected in low-velocity, shallow areas (C. 

Abeyta, USFWS, written commun., 2007). Filtered samples 

were analyzed for total dissolved solids, common anions, 

major ions, trace elements, and perchlorate, and unfiltered 

samples were analyzed for alkalinity, total suspended 

solids, hardness, total cyanide, nutrients, biological oxygen 

demand, chemical oxygen demand, and organic compounds 

including volatile organic compounds, pesticides, herbicides, 

explosives, and pharmaceuticals.

Data collected by the USFWS were provided by the 

agency in a spreadsheet of water-quality data associated with a 

draft report (Abeyta and Lusk, 2004). Data not relevant to the 

study were removed. 

Nonparametric statistical methods, which are dependent 

on the relative position of numerically ranked data (Helsel, 

2005), were applied to calculate summary statistics. Summary 

statistics—including median and maximum concentrations, the 

number of samples analyzed, and the percentage of values that 

were censored—were calculated for all constituents for which 

two or more values were available. 

Most of the available data were values that are less than 

a threshold value and are imprecisely known and denoted as 

censored (Helsel, 2005). The data obtained from the USGS, 

the LANL, and the NMED denoted censored data with a 
12 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

qualifier code that indicated that the reported value was the 

threshold value. The data obtained from the USFWS denoted 

censored data by alteration of the reported value to indicate 

that the measured value was less than the associated reporting 

limit. All values that were less than or equal to the largest 

censored value for that constituent were raised to the largest 

censored value for statistical analysis. 

Estimated values (measured values that are equal to or 

less than a threshold value) indicated that the analyte was 

present in the sample but that the actual concentration is 

imprecisely known. Estimated values in all databases were 

indicated by a qualifier code. The concentrations of estimated 

values were assumed to equal the estimated value for 

statistical analysis. 

In general, analysis methods for radionuclides differ from 

methods for organic and inorganic constituents. Radionuclides 

are quantified by measuring the rate of radioactive decay, 

and the uncertainty of the measured value is a function of 

the length of time that is monitored for decay. The minimum 

detectable concentration (the minimum concentration required 

to give a specified probability that an analyte is present in a 

sample, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2004, p. 20–6) 

determines the threshold for censoring a value. For this report, 

the databases did not provide the required information to 

define the threshold values and did not consistently designate 

censored data. Therefore, the reported values for radionuclides 

were assumed to be absolute concentrations unless the 

constituent was qualified as censored.

Results from analyses for radionuclides can be expressed 

in units of concentration (μg/L), activity (pCi/L or

μCi/mL), or exposure (millirems). The conversion from units 

of concentration or activity to units of exposure is dependent 

on factors such as body mass, radionuclide species, and the 

amount of radionuclide consumed. In addition, given the 

same concentration or activity, different radionuclides would 

contribute different levels of exposure to the final exposure 

value. Because of the complexities, the equivalent exposure 

for the reported concentrations or activities of radionuclides 

are not presented in this report.

Results of selected water analyses are compared to 

(1) national drinking-water standards promulgated by the 

USEPA including primary standards (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2007a) and secondary standards (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2007b); (2) health-based 

screening levels (HBSL) developed by the USGS, USEPA, 

Oregon Health and Science University (OSHU), and the New 

Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP; U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2007); (3) human-health screening levels 

for tapwater developed by the USEPA (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2007c); and (4) derived concentration 

guide (DCG) reference values for operational U.S. Department 

of Energy (USDOE) facilities developed by the USDOE 

(U.S. Department of Energy, 2007). The comparison is useful 

to evaluate the suitability of surface water for municipal 

supply. Because the water-quality data for radionuclides were 

reported in units of concentration or activity, standards for 

radionuclides reported in units of exposure were not included 

in the comparison. 

Primary drinking-water standards established by the 

USEPA (table 5) are either maximum contaminant levels or 

treatment techniques and are legally enforceable limits on 

concentrations of specific contaminants known to adversely 

affect human health (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2011). Standards are the lowest concentration of a contaminant 

that can be achieved in drinking water with the best available 

and economically feasible technology and treatment 

techniques and are generally established with the objective of 

attaining the maximum contaminant level goal (the maximum 

concentration of a contaminant that does not cause adverse 

health effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2011). Secondary drinking-water standards established by 

the USEPA (table 6) are non-enforceable guidelines for 

contaminants that may affect the cosmetic or aesthetic quality 

of the water (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011). 

The USGS, in cooperation with the USEPA, OHSU, and 

the NJDEP, developed HBSLs (table 7) to provide a context 

for interpretation of water-quality data for compounds with 

no existing drinking-water standards (Toccalino and others, 

2003). Toccalino and others (2003) detailed the methods 

used to determine HBSLs, and Toccalino (2007) summarized 

revisions to the methodology used to determine HBSLs. The 

USEPA Region 6 developed screening levels (table 8) on 

the basis of fixed levels of risk associated with contaminant 

concentrations in soil, air, and water to aid in the process of 

closure and realignment of surplus military property (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c, 2007d). The 

USDOE DCG reference values (table 9) are the concentrations 

of radionuclides at which continuous exposure for 1 year 

by a single mode (ingestion of water, submersion in air, or 

inhalation) would result in an effective dose equivalent of 100 

millirems. The values were established to limit exposure of 

the public to radiation from USDOE facilities and activities 

to the lowest achievable level and to control radioactive 

contamination of the environment to the extent practical (U.S. 

Department of Energy, 2007).
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 13

Table 5. Primary drinking-water standards and maximum contaminant level goals promulgated by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency.

[Standards and goals from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007a. CASRN, Chemical Abstracts Service registry number; MCL, maximum contaminant 

level; TT, treatment technique; mg/L, milligrams per liter; n/a, not available; N, nitrogen; Cl2, chlorine; ClO2, chlorine dioxide; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; 

mrem/year, millirems per year; μg/L, micrograms per liter; MRDL, maximum residual disinfectant level; MRDLG, maximum residual disinfectant level goal]

Constituent CASRN Highest allowable concentration(MCL or TT)

(mg/L)

Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)

(mg/L)

General chemistry

Turbidity 1TT n/a 

Cyanide (as free cyanide) 57-12-5 .2 .2

Major ions

Fluoride 16984-48-8 4 4

Nutrients

Nitrate (measured as N) 14797-55-8 10 10

Nitrite (measured as N) 14797-65-0 1 1

Trace elements

Antimony 7440-36-0 .006 .006

Arsenic 7440-38-2 .01 0

Barium 7440-39-3 2 2

Beryllium 7440-41-7 .004 .004

Cadmium 7440-43-9 .005 .005

Chromium (total) 7440-47-3 .1 .1

Copper 7440-50-8 2TT 1.3

Lead 7439-92-1 2TT 0

Mercury (inorganic) 7439-97-6 .002 .002

Selenium 7782-49-2 .05 .05

Thallium 7440-28-0 .002 .0005

Organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 71-55-6 .2 .2

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 79-00-5 .005 .003

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 120-82-1 .07 .07

1,1-Dichloroethylene 75-35-4 .007 .007

1,2-Dichloroethane 107-06-2 .005 0

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene 156-59-2 .07 .07

trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 156-60-5 .1 .1

1,2-Dichloropropane 78-87-5 .005 0

Benzene 71-43-2 .005 0

Carbon tetrachloride 56-23-5 .005 0

Chlorobenzene 108-90-7 .1 .1

o-Dichlorobenzene 95-50-1 .6 .6

p-Dichlorobenzene 106-46-7 .075 .075

Dichloromethane 75-09-2 .005 0

Ethylbenzene 100-41-4 .7 .7

Ethylene dibromide 106-93-4 .00005 0

Styrene 100-42-5 .1 .1

Tetrachloroethylene 127-18-4 .005 0

Toluene 108-88-3 1 1

Trichloroethylene 79-01-6 .005 0

Vinyl chloride 75-01-4 .002 0

Xylenes (total) 1330-20-7 10 10
14 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 5. Primary drinking-water standards and maximum contaminant level goals promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency.—Continued

[Standards and goals from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007a. CASRN, Chemical Abstracts Service registry number; MCL, maximum contaminant 

level; TT, treatment technique; mg/L, milligrams per liter; n/a, not available; N, nitrogen; Cl2, chlorine; ClO2, chlorine dioxide; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; 

mrem/year, millirems per year; μg/L, micrograms per liter; MRDL, maximum residual disinfectant level; MRDLG, maximum residual disinfectant level goal]

Constituent CASRN Highest allowable concentration (MCL or TT)

(mg/L)

Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)

(mg/L)

Semivolatile organic compounds

Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate 103-23-1 0.4 0.4

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 117-81-7 .006 0

Hexachlorobenzene 118-74-1 .001 0

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 77-47-4 .05 .05

Pentachlorophenol 87-86-5 .001 0

Pesticides

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 96-12-8 .0002 0

2,4,5-TP 93-72-1 .05 .05

2,4-D 94-75-7 .07 .07

Alachlor 15972-60-8 .002 0

Atrazine 1912-24-9 .003 .003

Carbofuran 1563-66-2 .04 .04

Chlordane 12789-03-6 .002 0

Dalapon 75-99-0 .2 .2

Dinoseb 88-85-7 .007 .007

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) 1746-01-6 .00000003 0

Diquat 2764-72-9 .02 .02

Endothall 145-73-3 .1 .1

Endrin 72-20-8 .002 .002

Glyphosate 1071-83-6 .7 .7

Heptachlor 76-44-8 .0004 0

Heptachlor epoxide 1024-57-3 .0002 0

Lindane 58-89-9 .0002 .0002

Methoxychlor 72-43-5 .04 .04

Oxamyl 23135-22-0 .2 .2

Picloram 1918-02-1 .5 .5

Simazine 122-34-9 .004 .004

Toxaphene 8001-35-2 .003 0

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons

Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs) 50-32-8 .0002 0

Polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 1336-36-3 .0005 0

Radionuclides

Alpha particles 15 pCi/L 0

Beta particles and photon emitters 4 mrem/year 0

Radium 226 and Radium 228 

(combined) 

5 pCi/L 0

Tritium 20,000 pCi/L

Strontium-90 8 pCi/L

Uranium 30 mg/L 0
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 15

Table 5. Primary drinking-water standards and maximum contaminant level goals promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency.—Continued

[Standards and goals from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007a. CASRN, Chemical Abstracts Service registry number; MCL, maximum contaminant 

level; TT, treatment technique; mg/L, milligrams per liter; n/a, not available; N, nitrogen; Cl2, chlorine; ClO2, chlorine dioxide; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; 

mrem/year, millirems per year; μg/L, micrograms per liter; MRDL, maximum residual disinfectant level; MRDLG, maximum residual disinfectant level goal]

Constituent CASRN Highest allowable concentration (MCL or TT)

(mg/L)

Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)

(mg/L)

Bacteria and viruses

Total coliforms (including fecal 

coliform and Escherichia coli) 

3

5.0 percent 0

Disinfection and treatment products

Acrylamide 79-06-1 4TT 0

Chloramines (as Cl2) 5MRDL = 4.0 6MRDLG = 4.0

Chlorine (as Cl2) 5MRDL = 4.0 6MRDLG = 4.0

Chlorine dioxide (as ClO2) 10049-04-4 5MRDL = 0.8 6MRDLG = 0.8

Epichlorohydrin 106-89-8 4TT 0

Disinfection byproducts

Bromate 15541-45-4 .01 0

Chlorite 14998-27-7 1 .8

Haloacetic acids .06 7n/a

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) .01/.08 8none/7n/a

1

 Turbidity: At no time can turbidity (cloudiness of water) be greater than 5 nephelolometric turbidity units (NTU); systems that filter must ensure that the 

turbidity does not exceed 1 NTU (0.5 NTU for conventional or direct filtration) in at least 95 percent of the daily samples in any month. As of January 1, 2002, 

turbidity may never exceed 1 NTU and must not exceed 0.3 NTU in 95 percent of daily samples in any month.

2

 Lead and copper are regulated by a treatment technique that requires systems to control the corrosiveness of their water. If more than 10 percent of tapwater 

samples exceed the action level, water systems must take additional steps. For copper, the action level is 1.3 mg/L, and for lead the action level is 0.015 mg/L.

3

 More than 5.0 percent samples total coliform-positive in a month. (For water systems that collect fewer than 40 routine samples per month, no more than one 

sample can be total coliform-positive per month.) Every sample that has total coliform must be analyzed for either fecal coliforms or E. coli. In a system, if two 

consecutive samples are total coliform positive—one of which is also positive for E. coli fecal coliforms—then the system has an acute MCL violation.

4

 Each water system must certify, in writing, to the State (using third-party or manufacturer’s certification) that, when acrylamide and epichlorohydrin are used 

in drinking-water systems, the combination (or product) of dose and monomer level does not exceed the levels specified, as follows: Acrylamide = 0.05 percent 

dosed at 1 mg/L (or equivalent) and Epichlorohydrin = 0.01 percent dosed at 20 mg/L (or equivalent).

5

 Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL)—The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a 

disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

6

 Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG)—The level of a drinking-water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. 

MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

7

 Although there is no collective MCLG for this contaminant group, there are individual MCLGs for some of the individual contaminants: Trihalomethanes: 

bromodichloromethane (zero); bromoform (zero); dibromochloromethane (0.06 mg/L). Chloroform is regulated with this group but has no MCLG. Haloacetic 

acids: dichloroacetic acid (zero); trichloroacetic acid (0.3 mg/L). Monochloroacetic acid, bromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid are regulated with this group 

but have no MCLGs.

8

 MCLGs were not established before the 1986 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. Therefore, there is no MCLG for this contaminant.
16 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 6. Secondary drinking-water standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and noticeable effects above 

the standard.

[Standards and effects from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007b. mg/L, milligrams per liter]

Constituent Secondary standard

(mg/L)

Noticeable effects above the secondary 

maximum contaminant level

General chemistry

pH 6.5–8.5 standard units low pH: bitter metallic taste; corrosion

high pH: slippery feel; soda taste; deposits

Total dissolved solids (TDS) 500 hardness; deposits; colored water; staining; salty taste

Major ions

Chloride 250 salty taste

Fluoride 2 tooth discoloration

Sulfate 250 salty taste

Trace elements

Aluminum .05–.2 colored water

Copper 1 metallic taste; blue-green staining

Iron .3 rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining

Manganese .05 black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste

Silver .1 skin discoloration; graying of the white part of the eye

Zinc 5 metallic taste

Other

Color 15 (color units) visible tint

Corrosivity noncorrosive metallic taste; corroded pipes/ fixtures staining

Foaming agents .5 frothy, cloudy; bitter taste; odor

Odor 3 threshold odor number “rotten egg,” musty, or chemical smell
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 17

Table 7. Health-based screening levels developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

[Screening levels from U.S. Geological Survey, 2007. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter]

Constituent CASRN USGS parameter 

codes

Low health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

High health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

Major ions

Perchlorate 14797730 61209, 62171 5 5

Trace elements

Boron 7440428 01020, 01022 1,000 1,000

Chromium (III) 16065831 1030 10,000 10,000

Chromium (VI) 18540299 1032 20 20

Manganese 7439965 01054, 01055, 01056 300 300

Molybdenum 7439987 01060, 01062 40 40

Nickel 7440020 01065, 01067 100 100

Silver 7440224 01075, 01077 100 100

Strontium 7440246 01080, 01082 4,000 4,000

Vanadium 7440622 01085, 01087

Zinc 7440666 01090, 01092 2,000 2,000

Organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 630206 77562 70 70

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 79345 34516 .3 .3

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-Trifluoroethane 76131 50283, 77652 200,000 200,000

1,2,3-Trichloropropane 96184 77443 40 40

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 541731 34566 600 600

1,3-Dichloropropene 542756 .3 30

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene 95498 77275 100 100

4-Chlorotoluene 106434 77277 100 100

Acetone 67641 81552 6,000 6,000

Acrolein 107028 34210 4 4

Acrylonitrile 107131 34215 .06 6

Bromochloromethane 74975 77297 90 90

Bromomethane 74839 30202, 34413 100 100

Carbon Disulfide 75150 77041 700 700

Dichlorodifluoromethane 75718 34668, 50282 1,000 1,000

Ether, Ethyl 60297 81576 1,000 1,000

Hexachlorobutadiene 87683 34392, 39702 .9 90

Hexachloroethane 67721 34396, 34397 .7 .7

Isopropylbenzene 98828 62078, 77223 700 700

Methyl acrylonitrile 126987 81593 .7 .7

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78933 81595 4,000 4,000

Methyl methacrylate 80626 81597 10,000 10,000

Methylchloride 74873 30201, 34418 30 30

Naphthalene 91203 34443, 34696 100 100

Trichlorofluoromethane 75694 34488, 50281 2,000 2,000
18 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 7. Health-based screening levels developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Geological Survey, 2007. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter]

Constituent CASRN USGS parameter 

codes

Low health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

High health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

Semivolatile Organic Compounds

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine 122667 82626 0.04 4

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 88062 34621, 34622 3 300

2,4-Dichlorophenol 120832 34601, 34602 20 20

2,4-Dimethylphenol 105679 34606, 34607 100 100

2,4-Dinitrophenol 51285 34616, 34617 10 10

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 121142 34611, 34612 .05 5

2,6-Dinitrotoluene 606202 34626, 34627 .05 5

2-Chloronaphthalene 91587 34581, 34582 600 600

2-Chlorophenol 95578 34586, 34587 40 40

2-Methylnaphthalene 91576 62056 30 30

3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine 91941 34631, 34632 .08 8

Acenaphthene 83329 34205, 34206 400 400

Acetophenone 98862 62064 700 700

Anthracene 120127 34220, 34221 2,000 2,000

Benzidine 92875 34239, 39120 .0002 .02

bis(2-Chloroethyl)ether 111444 34273, 34274 .03 3

bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether 108601 34283, 34284 300 300

Butylbenzyl phthalate 85687 34292, 34293 100 100

Diethyl phthalate 84662 34336, 34337 6,000 6,000

Di-n-butyl phthalate 84742 34327, 39110 700 700

Fluoranthene 206440 34376, 34377 300 300

Fluorene 86737 34381, 34382 300 300

Isophorone 78591 34408, 34409 100 100

Nitrobenzene 98953 34447, 34448 4 4

N-Nitrosodimethylamine 62759 34438, 34439 .0007 .07

N-Nitrosodi-N-propylamine 621647 34428 .005 .5

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine 86306 34433, 34434 7 700

Phenol 108952 34466, 34694 2,000 2,000

p-Nitrophenol 100027 34646, 34647 60 60

Pyrene 129000 34469, 34470 200 200

Pesticide

2,4,5-T 93765 39740, 39742 70 70

2,4-DB 94826 38746 200 200

Acetochlor 34256821 49260 1 100

Acifluorfen 50594666 49315 90 90

Acifluorfen, sodium 62476599 90 90

Aldicarb 116063 49312 7 7

Aldrin 309002 39330, 39331 .002 .2

Ametryn 834128 38401, 82184 500 500

Azinphos-methyl 86500 82686 10 10
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 19

Table 7. Health-based screening levels developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Geological Survey, 2007. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter]

Constituent CASRN USGS parameter 

codes

Low health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

High health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

Bendiocarb 22781233 50299 9 9

Benfluralin 1861401 82673 4 4

Benomyl 17804352 50300 40 40

Bensulfuron-methyl 83055996 61676, 61693 1,000 1,000

Bentazon 25057890 38711 200 200

beta-HCH 319857 39338 .04 .04

Bifenthrin 82657043 61580 10 10

Bromacil 314409 04029, 30234 70 70

Bromoxynil 1689845 49311 10 10

Butylate 2008415 04028, 30236 400 400

Captan 133062 61582 900 900

Carbaryl 63252 39750, 49310, 82680 40 4,000

Carboxin 5234684 04027, 30245 60 60

Chloramben 133904 49307 100 100

Chlorimuron-ethyl 90982324 50306, 61677 600 600

Chlorothalonil 1897456 49306, 70314 5 500

Chlorpyrifos 2921882 38932, 38933 2 2

Chlorsulfuron 64902723 61678 100 100

Cyanazine 21725462 04041, 50010, 81757 1 1

Cycloate 1134232 04031, 30254 40 40

Cyfluthrin 68359375 61585 200 200

Cyhalothrin/Karate 68085858 40 40

Cypermethrin 52315078 61586 40 40

Dacthal 1861321 82682 70 70

Diazinon 333415 39570, 39572 1 1

Dicamba 1918009 38442, 82052 3,000 3,000

Dichlobenil 1194656 49303 9 9

Dichlorvos 62737 38775 .4 .4

Dicrotophos 141662 38454 .05 .05

Dieldrin 60571 39380, 39381 .002 .2

Dimethoate 60515 82662 2 2

Diphenamid 957517 04033, 30255 200 200

Disulfoton 298044 39011, 82677 .9 .9

Diuron 330541 49300 2 200

Endosulfan 115297 82354 40 40

EPTC 759944 82668 200 200

Ethalfluralin 55283686 82663 30 30

Ethion 563122 39398, 82346 4 4

Ethoprophos 13194484 82672 1 100

Fenamiphos 22224926 61591 .7 .7

Fenthion 55389 38801 .5 .5
20 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 7. Health-based screening levels developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Geological Survey, 2007. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter]

Constituent CASRN USGS parameter 

codes

Low health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

High health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

Flumetsulam 98967409 61679, 61694 7,000 7,000

Fluometuron 2164172 38811 4 4

Fonofos 944229 04095, 82614 10 10

Glufosinate ammonium 77182822 3 3

Hexazinone 51235042 04025, 30264 400 400

Imazapyr 81334341 61681 20,000 20,000

Imazaquin 81335377 50356, 61682 2,000 2,000

Imazethapyr 81335775 50407, 61683 2,000 2,000

Imidacloprid 105827789 61695 400 400

Iprodione 36734197 61593 .8 80

Isofenphos 25311711 61594 6 6

Linuron 330552 38478, 82666 5 5

Malathion 121755 39530, 39532 50 50

MCPA 94746 38482 30 30

MCPB 94815 38487 100 100

Metalaxyl 57837191 50359, 61596 600 600

Methidathion 950378 61598 1 1

Methiocarb 2032657 30282, 38501 40 40

Methomyl 16752775 39051, 49296 200 200

Metolachlor 51218452 39415, 82612, 82694 700 700

Metribuzin 21087649 82611, 82630 90 90

Metsulfuron-methyl 74223646 61684, 61697 2,000 2,000

Mirex 2385855 39755, 39756 1 1

Molinate 2212671 50375, 82671 .7 .7

Myclobutanil 88671890 61599 200 200

Naled 300765 38856 10 10

Napropamide 15299997 82684 800 800

Nicosulfuron 111991094 50364, 61685 9,000 9,000

Norflurazon 27314132 49293, 50332 10 10

Oryzalin 19044883 49292 4 400

Oxyfluorfen 42874033 61600 20 20

p,p'-DDD 72548 39310, 39360, 39361 .1 10

p,p'-DDT 50293 39300, 39370, 39371 .1 10

Parathion 56382 39540, 39542 .02 .02

Parathion-methyl 298000 39600, 39602, 82667 1 1

Pebulate 1114712 82669 50 50

Pendimethalin 40487421 82683 70 70

Permethrin 52645531 4 400

Phorate 298022 39023, 82664 4 4

Phosmet 732116 61601 8 8

Primisulfuron methyl 86209510 61686 2,000 2,000
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 21

Table 7. Health-based screening levels developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Oregon Health and Science University, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Geological Survey, 2007. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter]

Constituent CASRN USGS parameter 

codes

Low health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

High health-based 

screening level

(μg/L)

Profenofos 41198087 61603 .4 .4

Prometon 1610180 04037, 39056 100 100

Prometryn 7287196 04036, 39057 300 300

Propachlor 1918167 04024, 30295 1 100

Propanil 709988 50377, 82679 6 6

Propargite 2312358 82685 1 100

Propazine 139402 38535, 39024 100 100

Propetamphos 31218834 61604 4 4

Propham 122429 39052, 49236 100 100

Propiconazole 60207901 50471 70 70

Propoxur 114261 30296, 38538 9 900

Propyzamide 23950585 82676 1 100

Prosulfuron 94125345 61687 100 100

Sulfotepp 3689245 61605 4 4

Tebuthiuron 34014181 82670 1,000 1,000

Tefluthrin 79538322 61606 40 40

Terbacil 5902512 04032, 30311, 82665 90 90

Terbufos 13071799 82675 .4 .4

Terbuthylazine 5915413 04022, 91064 2 2

Terbutryn 886500 38888 .7 .7

Thifensulfuron methyl 79277273 61689 90 90

Thiobencarb 28249776 82681 70 70

Triallate 2303175 82678 20 20

Triasulfuron 82097505 61690 70 70

Tribenuron-methyl 101200480 61159 6 6

Tribuphos 78488 39040, 61610 7 7

Triclopyr 55335063 49235 400 400

Trifluralin 1582098 04023, 39030, 82661 20 20

Triflusulfuron methyl 126535157 61691 20 20

Vernolate 1929777 04034, 30324 7 7

Pesticide degradation product

2-Hydroxyatrazine 2163680 50355 70 70

Aldicarb sulfone 1646884 49313, 82587 7 7

Aldicarb sulfoxide 1646873 49314, 82586 7 7

alpha-HCH 319846 34253, 39337 .006 .6

p,p'-DDE 72559 34653, 39320, 39365, 39366 .1 10

Polychlorinated biphenyls

Aroclor 1016 12674112 34671 .5 .5

Aroclor 1254 11097691 39504 .1 .1

Emerging contaminant

Bisphenol A 80057 62069 400 400
22 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 630-20-6 0.43238556

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 71-55-6 835.8364312268

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 79-34-5 .0553382456

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane 76-13-1 59,179.8574761935

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 79-00-5 .1995131878

1,1,2-Trichloropropane 598-77-6 3.4166666667

1,1-Biphenyl 92-52-4 304.1666666667

1,1-Dichloroethane 75-34-3 1216.6666666667

1,1-Dichloroethylene 75-35-4 338.8436482085

1,1-Difluoroethane 75-37-6 69350

1,1-Dimethylhydrazine 57-14-7 .0258582824

1,2,3-Trichloropropane 96-18-4 .0016008561

1,2,3-Trichloropropene 96-19-5 2.0738636364

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 95-94-3 1.95

1,2,4-Tribromobenzene 615-54-3 182.5

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 120-82-1 8.156424581

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 95-63-6 12.4290578888

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 96-12-8 .0002031502

1,2-Dibromoethane 106-93-4 .0056029965

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 95-50-1 49.3058161351

1,2-Dichloroethane (EDC) 107-06-2 .1231427792

1,2-Dichloroethylene (cis) 156-59-2 6.8333333333

1,2-Dichloroethylene (trans) 156-60-5 106.8292682927

1,2-Dichloropropane 78-87-5 .1647940133

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine 540-73-8 .0018170685

1,2-Dinitrobenzene 528-29-0 3.65

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine 122-66-7 .0840394179

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 108-67-8 12.3261819627

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 1,095

1,3-Butadiene 106-99-0 .1280701754

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 541-73-1 14.479338843

1,3-Dichloropropene 542-75-6 .3954924694

1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 3.65

1,4-Dibromobenzene 106-37-6 365

1,4-Dichloro-2-butene 764-41-0 .0012049455

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 106-46-7 .466916371

1,4-Dinitrobenzene 100-25-4 3.65

1,4-Dioxane 123-91-1 6.1119576684

1,4-Dithiane 505-29-3 365

1,6-Hexamethylene diisocyanate 822-06-0 .10439
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 23

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 630-20-6 0.43238556

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 71-55-6 835.8364312268

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 79-34-5 .0553382456

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane 76-13-1 59,179.8574761935

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 79-00-5 .1995131878

1,1,2-Trichloropropane 598-77-6 3.4166666667

1,1-Biphenyl 92-52-4 304.1666666667

1,1-Dichloroethane 75-34-3 1216.6666666667

1,1-Dichloroethylene 75-35-4 338.8436482085

1,1-Difluoroethane 75-37-6 69350

1,1-Dimethylhydrazine 57-14-7 .0258582824

1,2,3-Trichloropropane 96-18-4 .0016008561

1,2,3-Trichloropropene 96-19-5 2.0738636364

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 95-94-3 1.95

1,2,4-Tribromobenzene 615-54-3 182.5

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 120-82-1 8.156424581

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 95-63-6 12.4290578888

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 96-12-8 .0002031502

1,2-Dibromoethane 106-93-4 .0056029965

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 95-50-1 49.3058161351

1,2-Dichloroethane (EDC) 107-06-2 .1231427792

1,2-Dichloroethylene (cis) 156-59-2 6.8333333333

1,2-Dichloroethylene (trans) 156-60-5 106.8292682927

1,2-Dichloropropane 78-87-5 .1647940133

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine 540-73-8 .0018170685

1,2-Dinitrobenzene 528-29-0 3.65

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine 122-66-7 .0840394179

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 108-67-8 12.3261819627

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 99-35-4 1,095

1,3-Butadiene 106-99-0 .1280701754

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 541-73-1 14.479338843

1,3-Dichloropropene 542-75-6 .3954924694

1,3-Dinitrobenzene 99-65-0 3.65

1,4-Dibromobenzene 106-37-6 365

1,4-Dichloro-2-butene 764-41-0 .0012049455

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 106-46-7 .466916371

1,4-Dinitrobenzene 100-25-4 3.65

1,4-Dioxane 123-91-1 6.1119576684

1,4-Dithiane 505-29-3 365

1,6-Hexamethylene diisocyanate 822-06-0 .10439
24 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

4-(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)butyric Acid (2,4-DB) 94-82-6 292

4-(2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) butyric acid (MCPB) 94-81-5 365

4,4'-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) 101-14-4 .0215339233

4,4'-Methylene bis(N,N'-dimethyl)aniline 101-61-1 1.4615550946

4,4'-Methylenediphenyl isocyanate 101-68-8 6.205

4,6-Dinitro-o-cyclohexyl phenol 131-89-5 73

4-Aminopyridine 504-24-5 .73

4-Chloro-2-methylaniline 95-69-2 .1159164385

4-Chloroaniline 106-47-8 146

4-Chlorobenzotrifluoride 98-56-6 730

4-Methylphenol 106-44-5 182.5

4-Nitrophenol 100-02-7 292

Acenaphthene 83-32-9 365

Acetaldehyde 75-07-0 1.7464114833

Acetochlor 34256-82-1 730

Acetone 67-64-1 5,475

Acetonitrile 75-05-8 124.1

Acetophenone 98-86-2 608.3333333333

Acrolein 107-02-8 .0416191562

Acrylamide 79-06-1 .0147761614

Acrylic acid 79-10-7 18,250

Acrylonitrile 107-13-1 .0388642689

Alachlor 15972-60-8 .8351743398

Alar 1596-84-5 5,475

Aldicarb 116-06-3 36.5

Aldicarb sulfone 1646-88-4 36.5

Aldrin 309-00-2 .0039547961

Allyl chloride 107-05-1 1,825

Aluminum 7429-90-5 36,500

Amdro 67485-29-4 1.95

Ammonia 7664-41-7 208.5714285714

Aniline 62-53-3 11.7950060268

Anthracene 120-12-7 1,825

Antimony and compounds 7440-36-0 14.6

Antimony pentoxide 1314-60-9 18.25

Antimony tetroxide 1332-81-6 14.6

Antimony trioxide 1309-64-4 14.6

Aroclor 1016 12674-11-2 .9604504908

Aroclor 1221 11104-28-2 .0336157672

Aroclor 1232 11141-16-5 .0336157672
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 25

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Aroclor 1242 53469-21-9 0.0336157672

Aroclor 1248 12672-29-6 .0336157672

Aroclor 1254 11097-69-1 .0336157672

Aroclor 1260 11096-82-5 .0336157672

Arsenic (cancer endpoint) 7440-38-2 .0448210229

Arsine 7784-42-1 .10439

Assure 76578-14-8 328.5

Atrazine 1912-24-9 .3028447493

Azobenzene 103-33-3 .6111957668

Barium and compounds 7440-39-3 7,300

Barium cyanide 542-62-1 3,650

Baygon 114-26-1 146

Baythroid 68359-37-5 912.5

Bentazon 25057-89-0 1,095

Benz[a]anthracene 56-55-3 .0215339233

Benzaldehyde 100-52-7 3,650

Benzene 71-43-2 .3538700293

Benzidine 92-87-5 .0215339233

Benzo[a]pyrene 50-32-8 .0215339233

Benzo[b]fluoranthene 205-99-2 .0215339233

Benzo[k]fluoranthene 207-08-9 .0215339233

Benzoic acid 65-85-0 146,000

Benzyl alcohol 100-51-6 10,950

Benzyl chloride 100-44-7 .0659176053

Beryllium and compounds 7440-41-7 73

beta-Chloronaphthalene 91-58-7 486.6666666667

Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether 111-44-4 .0097797808

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl)ether 108-60-1 .2744299001

Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) 117-81-7 4.8022524538

Bis(chloromethyl)ether 542-88-1 .0000515218

Boron 7440-42-8 7,300

Bromobenzene 108-86-1 23.252008907

Bromodichloromethane 75-27-4 .180741821

Bromoform (tribromomethane) 75-25-2 8.5103208041

Bromomethane 74-83-9 8.6610169492

Bromophos 2104-96-3 182.5

Bromoxynil 1689-84-5 730

Butyl benzyl phthalate 85-68-7 7,300

Butylate 2008-41-5 1,825

Cadmium and compounds 7440-43-9 18.25
26 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Calcium cyanide 592-01-8 1,460

Caprolactam 105-60-2 18,250

Captan 133-06-2 19.209009815

Carbaryl 63-25-2 3,650

Carbazole 86-74-8 3.3615767176

Carbofuran 1563-66-2 182.5

Carbon disulfide 75-15-0 1042.8571428571

Carbon tetrachloride 56-23-5 .1712995771

Carbosulfan 55285-14-8 365

Chloral 302-17-0 3,650

Chloranil 118-75-2 .1668276287

Chlordane 57-74-9 .1920900982

Chlorine 7782-50-5 3,650

Chlorine dioxide 10049-04-4 .4171428571

Chloroacetic acid 79-11-8 73

Chlorobenzene 108-90-7 91.25

Chlorobenzilate 510-15-6 .2490056828

Chlorodifluoromethane 75-45-6 85166.6666666667

Chloroform 67-66-3 .1670480549

Chloromethane 74-87-3 2.134502924

Chlorpyrifos 2921-88-2 109.5

Chlorpyrifos-methyl 5598-13-0 365

Chromium III 16065-83-1 54,750

Chromium VI 18540-29-9 109.5

Chrysene 218-01-9 9.2097992264

Cobalt 7440-48-4 730

Copper and compounds 7440-50-8 1,355.71428571428

Copper cyanide 544-92-3 182.5

Crotonaldehyde 123-73-9 .005897891

Cumene (isopropylbenzene) 98-82-8 658.1967213115

Cyanazine 21725-46-2 .0800375409

Cyanide, free 57-12-5 730

Cyanogen 460-19-5 1,460

Cyanogen bromide 506-68-3 3,285

Cyanogen chloride 506-77-4 1,825

Cyclohexane 110-82-7 12,514.2857142857

Cyclohexanone 108-94-1 182,500

Cyhalothrin/Karate 68085-85-8 182.5

Cypermethrin 52315-07-8 365

Dacthal 1861-32-1 365
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 27

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Dalapon 75-99-0 1,095

DDD 72-54-8 .2801313931

DDE 72-55-9 .1977398069

DDT 50-29-3 .1977398069

Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate 103-23-1 56.0262786271

Diazinon 333-41-5 32.85

Dibenz[ah]anthracene 53-70-3 .0215339233

Dibenzofuran 132-64-9 12.1666666667

Dibromochloromethane 124-48-1 .1334046774

Dibutyl phthalate 84-74-2 3,650

Dicamba 1918-00-9 1,095

Dichlorodifluoromethane 75-71-8 394.5945945946

Dichlorvos 62-73-7 .2318328771

Dicofol 115-32-2 .1527989417

Dicyclopentadiene 77-73-6 13.9047619048

Dieldrin 60-57-1 .0042019709

Diethyl phthalate 84-66-2 29,200

Diethylene glycol, monobutyl ether 112-34-5 365

Diethylene glycol, monoethyl ether 111-90-0 2,190

Diethylstilbestrol 56-53-1 .0000143046

Difenzoquat (Avenge) 43222-48-6 2,920

Diisopropyl methylphosphonate 1445-75-6 2,920

Dimethyl phthalate 131-11-3 365,000

Dimethylamine 124-40-3 .0347473904

Dimethylphenethylamine 122-09-8 36.5

Dinitrotoluene mixture 25321-14-6 .0988699035

Dinoseb 88-85-7 36.5

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) 1746-01-6 .0000004482

Diphenyl sulfone 127-63-9 109.5

Diphenylamine 122-39-4 912.5

Diquat 85-00-7 8.3

Disulfoton 298-04-4 1.46

Diuron 330-54-1 73

Endosulfan 115-29-7 219

Endothall 145-73-3 730

Endrin 72-20-8 1.95

Epichlorohydrin 106-89-8 2.0660377358

Ethion 563-12-2 18.25

Ethyl acetate 141-78-6 5,475

Ethyl chloride 75-00-3 3.864135484
28 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Ethyl ether 60-29-7 1,216.66666666667

Ethyl methacrylate 97-63-2 547.5

Ethylbenzene 100-41-4 1,339.87341772152

Ethylene diamine 107-15-3 3,285

Ethylene glycol 107-21-1 73,000

Ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether 111-76-2 18,250

Ethylene oxide 75-21-8 .0242725226

Ethylene thiourea (ETU) 96-45-7 .6111957668

Fenamiphos 22224-92-6 9.125

Fluometuron 2164-17-2 474.5

Fluoranthene 206-44-0 1,460

Fluorene 86-73-7 243.3333333333

Fluoride 16984-48-8 2,190

Fomesafen 72178-02-0 .3538501808

Fonofos 944-22-9 73

Formaldehyde 50-00-0 1.4615550946

Formic Acid 64-18-6 73,000

Furan 110-00-9 6.0833333333

Furazolidone 67-45-8 .017692509

Furfural 98-01-1 109.5

Glycidaldehyde 765-34-4 14.6

Glyphosate 1071-83-6 3,650

HCH (alpha) 319-84-6 .0106716721

HCH (beta) 319-85-7 .0373508524

HCH (gamma) Lindane 58-89-9 .0517165649

HCH-technical 608-73-1 .0373508524

Heptachlor 76-44-8 .014940341

Heptachlor epoxide 1024-57-3 .0073880807

Hexabromobenzene 87-82-1 73

Hexachlorobenzene 118-74-1 .042019709

Hexachlorobutadiene 87-68-3 .8619427481

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 77-47-4 219

Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin mixture (HxCDD) 19408-74-3 .0000108438

Hexachloroethane 67-72-1 4.8022524538

Hexachlorophene 70-30-4 1.95

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine 121-82-4 .6111957668

Hexazinone 51235-04-2 1,204.5

HMX 2691-41-0 1,825

Hydrazine, hydrazine sulfate 302-01-2 .0224105115

Hydrogen cyanide 74-90-8 6.2029407974
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 29

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Hydrogen sulfide 7783-06-4 109.5

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene 193-39-5 .0215339233

Iron 7439-89-6 25,550

Isobutanol 78-83-1 1,825

Isophorone 78-59-1 7.7700361606

Isopropalin 33820-53-0 547.5

Isopropyl methyl phosphonic acid 1832-54-8 3,650

Kepone 143-50-0 .0084039418

Lead 7439-92-1 15

Lead (tetraethyl) 78-00-2 .00365

Lithium 7439-93-2 730

Malathion 121-75-5 730

Maleic anhydride 108-31-6 3,650

Manganese and compounds 7439-96-5 1,703.09

Mephosfolan 950-10-7 3.285

Mepiquat 24307-26-4 1,095

Mercury (elemental) 7439-97-6 .6257142857

Mercury (methyl) 22967-92-6 3.65

Mercury and compounds 7487-94-7 1.95

Methacrylonitrile 126-98-7 1.0428571429

Methanol 67-56-1 18,250

Methidathion 950-37-8 36.5

Methoxychlor 72-43-5 182.5

Methyl acetate 79-20-9 6,083.33333333333

Methyl acrylate 96-33-3 182.5

Methyl ethyl ketone 78-93-3 7,064.51612903226

Methyl hydrazine 60-34-4 .0611195767

Methyl isobutyl ketone 108-10-1 1,99.90909090909

Methyl mercaptan 74-93-1 2.805

Methyl methacrylate 80-62-6 1,419.44444444444

Methyl parathion 298-00-0 9.125

Methyl phosphonic acid 993-13-5 730

Methyl styrene (alpha) 98-83-9 425.8333333333

Methyl styrene (mixture) 25013-15-4 6.4137931034

Methyl tertbutyl ether (MTBE) 1634-04-4 1.5882421197

Methylcyclohexane 108-87-2 5,217.17451523546

Methylene bromide 74-95-3 6.8333333333

Methylene chloride 75-09-2 4.2756318271

Metolaclor (Dual) 51218-45-2 5,475

Mirex 2385-85-5 .0373508524
30 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

m-Nitrotoluene 99-08-1 121.6666666667

Molybdenum 7439-98-7 182.5

Monochloramine 10599-90-3 3,650

m-Phenylenediamine 108-45-2 219

Naled 300-76-5 73

Naphthalene 91-20-3 6.2029407974

n-Butylbenzene 104-51-8 6.8333333333

n-Hexane 110-54-3 1,454.71014492754

Nickel and compounds 7440-02-0 730

Nitrate 14797-55-8 10,000

Nitric Oxide 10102-43-9 3,650

Nitrite 14797-65-0 1,000

Nitrobenzene 98-95-3 3.3953488372

Nitrofurantoin 67-20-9 2,555

Nitrofurazone 59-87-0 .0448210229

Nitrogen dioxide 10102-44-0 36,500

N-N-Dimethylaniline 121-69-7 73

N-Nitroso di-n-propylamine 621-64-7 .0096045049

N-Nitrosodiethanolamine 1116-54-7 .0240112623

N-Nitrosodiethylamine 55-18-5 .0004482102

N-Nitrosodimethylamine 62-75-9 .0013182654

N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine 924-16-3 .0020130534

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine 86-30-6 13.7207212964

N-Nitroso-N-methylethylamine 10595-95-6 .0030559788

N-Nitrosopyrrolidine 930-55-2 .0320150164

n-Propylbenzene 103-65-1 6.8333333333

NuStar 85509-19-9 25.55

o-Chloronitrobenzene 88-73-3 .1454183267

o-Chlorotoluene 95-49-8 121.6666666667

Octahydro-1357-tetranitro-1357-tetrazocine (HMX) 2691-41-0 1,825

o-Nitrotoluene 88-72-2 .2923110189

Oryzalin 19044-88-3 1,825

Oxadiazon 19666-30-9 182.5

Oxamyl 23135-22-0 912.5

Oxyfluorfen 42874-03-3 109.5

p,a,a,a-Tetrachlorotoluene 5216-25-1 .0033615767

Paraquat 4685-14-7 164.25

Parathion 56-38-2 219

p-Chlorobenzoic acid 74-11-3 7,300

p-Chloronitrobenzene 100-00-5 1.2001934236
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 31

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Pentachlorobenzene 608-93-5 29.2

Pentachloronitrobenzene 82-68-8 .2585828244

Pentachlorophenol 87-86-5 .5602627863

Perchlorate 7601-90-3 <24.5

Perchlorate-revised 7601-90-3 25.55

Permethrin 52645-53-1 1,825

Phenol 108-95-2 10,950

Phenothiazine 92-84-2 73

Phenylmercuric acetate 62-38-4 2.92

Phosphine 7803-51-2 1.95

Phosphoric acid 7664-38-2 2.878

Phosphorus (white) 7723-14-0 .73

Phthalic anhydride 85-44-9 73,000

p-Hydroquinone 123-31-9 1.2005631134

p-Nitrotoluene 99-99-0 3.9547961384

Polybrominated biphenyls .007554105

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 1336-36-3 .0336157672

Potassium cyanide 151-50-8 1,825

Potassium silver cyanide 506-61-6 7,300

p-Phenylenediamine 106-50-3 6,935

p-Phthalic acid 100-21-0 36,500

Prometon 1610-18-0 547.5

Prometryn 7287-19-6 146

Propachlor 1918-16-7 474.5

Propanil 709-98-8 182.5

Propargite 2312-35-8 730

Propargyl alcohol 107-19-7 73

Propazine 139-40-2 730

Propiconazole 60207-90-1 474.5

Propylene glycol 57-55-6 18,250

Propylene glycol, monoethyl ether 111-35-3 25,550

Propylene glycol, monomethyl ether 107-98-2 25,550

Propylene oxide 75-56-9 .22061579

p-Toluidine 106-49-0 .3538501808

Pursuit 81335-77-5 9,125

Pyrene 129-00-0 182.5

Pyridine 110-86-1 36.5

Quinoline 91-22-5 .0224105115

RDX (Cyclonite) 121-82-4 .6111957668

Resmethrin 10453-86-8 1,095
32 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Ronnel 299-84-3 1,825

Rotenone 83-79-4 146

sec-Butylbenzene 135-98-8 6.8333333333

Selenious Acid 7783-00-8 182.5

Selenium 7782-49-2 182.5

Silver and compounds 7440-22-4 182.5

Silver cyanide 506-64-9 3,650

Simazine 122-34-9 .5602627863

Sodium azide 26628-22-8 146

Sodium cyanide 143-33-9 1,460

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate 148-18-5 .2490056828

Sodium fluoroacetate 62-74-8 .73

Sodium metavanadate 13718-26-8 36.5

Strontium, stable 7440-24-6 21,900

Strychnine 57-24-9 1.95

Styrene 100-42-5 1,641.08527131783

tert-Butylbenzene 98-06-6 6.8333333333

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) 127-18-4 .1045198387

Tetrachlorovinphos 961-11-5 2.8013139314

Tetrahydrofuran 109-99-9 8.8462545201

Thallic oxide 1314-32-5 2.555

Thallium 2.555

Thallium acetate 563-68-8 3.285

Thallium carbonate 6533-73-9 2.92

Thallium chloride 7791-12-0 2.92

Thallium nitrate 10102-45-1 3.285

Thallium selenite 12039-52-0 3.285

Thallium sulfate 7446-18-6 2.92

Thiobencarb 28249-77-6 365

Thiocyanate n/a 7.3

Tin and compounds n/a 21,900

Toluene 108-88-3 2281.2495009762

Toluene-2,4-diamine 95-80-7 .0210098545

Toluene-2,5-diamine 95-70-5 21,900

Toluene-2,6-diamine 823-40-5 1,095

Toxaphene 8001-35-2 .0611195767

Tributyltin oxide (TBTO) 56-35-9 1.95

Trichloroethylene (TCE) 79-01-6 .0280149823

Trichlorofluoromethane 75-69-4 1,288.23529411765

Triethylamine 121-44-8 12.1666666667
Statistical Summary of Selected Surface-Water-Quality Data 33

Table 8. Human-health screening levels for tapwater developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—Continued

[Screening levels from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007c. CASRN, Chemcial Abstracts Service registry number; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

n/a, not available; <, less than]

Constituent CASRN Screening level

(μg/L)

Trimethyl phosphate 512-56-1 1.817068496

Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine 479-45-8 146

Vanadium 7440-62-2 182.5

Vanadium pentoxide 1314-62-1 328.5

Vinclozolin 50471-44-8 912.5

Vinyl acetate 108-05-4 412.4293785311

Vinyl bromide 593-60-2 .1018726628

Vinyl chloride 75-01-4 .015

Warfarin 81-81-2 1.95

Xylene (m) 108-38-3 207.9772079772

Xylene (o) 95-47-6 1,431.37254901961

Xylenes 1330-20-7 202.7777777778

Zinc 7440-66-6 10,950

Zinc cyanide 557-21-1 1,825

Zinc phosphide 1314-84-7 1.95

Zineb 12122-67-7 1,825
34 Selected Investigations and Statistical Summary of Surface-Water Quality, North-Central New Mexico, 1985–2007

Table 9. Derived concentration guide reference values for 

ingested water for operational U.S. Department of Energy 

facilities. 

[Values from U.S. Department of Energy, 2007. DCG, derived concentration 

guide; μCi/mL, microcuries per milliliter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter]

Radionuclide

DCG 

(ingested water)

(μCi/mL)

DCG 

(ingested water)

(pCi/L)

Americium-241 0.00000003 30

Cesium-137 .000003 3,000

Strontium-90 .000001 1,000–10,000

Plutonium-238 .00000004 40–3,000

Plutonium-239 .00000003 30–2,000

Plutonium-240 .00000003 30–2,000

Radium-224 .0000004 400

Radium-226 .0000001 100

Radium-228 .0000001 100

Thorium-228 .0000004 400

Thorium-230 .0000003 300

Thorium-232 .00000005 50

Tritium .002 2,000,000

Uranium-234 .0000005 500–5,000

Uranium-235 .0000006 600–5,000

Uranium-236 .0000005 500–6,000

Uranium-238 .0000006 600–6,000

Uranium-Natural .0000006 600–6,000

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