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NMED: PFAS found near Santa Fe airport at levels far above EPA benchmark; state funds residential filters
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Summary
The New Mexico Environment Department told the interim committee it detected PFAS in wells beneath La Cieneguilla at concentrations as high as about 800 parts per trillion — hundreds of times the 4 ppt health benchmark cited by federal guidance — and has contracted TLC Plumbing to install residential filters using a $2 million legislative appropriation.
The New Mexico Environment Department reported to the Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Interim Committee that private wells near the Santa Fe airport and La Cieneguilla show PFAS contamination far above public health benchmarks.
"You've seen the slide up to 800 parts per trillion compared to the 4 part per trillion drinking water standard," Jonas Armstrong, director of the NMED Water Protection Division, told lawmakers. He said the department was alerted to the contamination late in the summer and is working with Santa Fe County, contractors and the Army National Guard to investigate the plume.
Armstrong said likely sources include historic use of aqueous film‑forming foam (AFFF) at airport and National Guard training locations and contributions from household consumer products that reach groundwater via septic systems. NMED is conducting its own analyses to fill data gaps identified in the county contractor report and to trace the plume's movement toward the Santa Fe River.
As a short‑term protective measure, Armstrong said the department contracted TLC Plumbing to install point‑of‑entry or point‑of‑use filters for affected private wells and households. "We were fortunate to have resources already available from you all, through special appropriations to address PFAS contamination," he said, referring to a $2 million legislative appropriation that NMED said can be used statewide. NMED will provide one replacement cartridge (about $400) per household; ongoing replacement costs are the homeowner's responsibility.
Committee members pressed for details on filter performance and follow‑up testing. Andrew Hotzinger, NMED special projects coordinator, said the chosen point‑of‑entry systems have roughly 6–12 months of cartridge life and that the agency will conduct follow‑up residential testing to verify reductions. He also warned that hard water and sediment can shorten cartridge life and described pre‑filtering and installation adjustments for diverse private well configurations.
Lawmakers asked about health monitoring. Armstrong said the Department of Health has posted a phone line to solicit interest in a community blood study; the study would require funding and sufficient volunteer participation to proceed. For now, NMED said it is prioritizing filter installation while it completes plume delineation and pursues potential responsible‑party identification.
The committee requested continued updates on sampling, the progress of installations and any recommendations for further state or federal action.
