Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water Resources of New Mexico, 2020–21
Links
- Document: Report (8.75 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
- Additional Report Pieces:
- Appendix Table 1.1 (csv) —Groundwater chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.2 (csv) —Groundwater quality control chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.3 (csv) —Surface-water chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.4 (csv) —Surface-water quality control chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.1 (xlsx) —Groundwater chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.2 (xlsx) —Groundwater quality control chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.3 (xlsx) —Surface-water chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Appendix Table 1.4 (xlsx) —Surface-water quality control chemistry data for samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from across New Mexico during 2020–21.
- Dataset: USGS water data for the Nation —USGS National Water Information System database
- Version History: Version History (txt)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in public and private drinking-water wells, springs, and surface waters in New Mexico; however, the presence and distribution of PFAS in water resources across the State are not well characterized. From August 2020 to October 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Mexico Environment Department, collected water-quality samples from groundwater and surface-water sites throughout New Mexico. One hundred and seventeen groundwater wells were sampled from unconfined water-table aquifers for PFAS and a geochemical suite including major ions, trace elements, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen, tritium, and carbon-14 to provide context for groundwater age and geochemical evolution. Eighteen surface-water samples were analyzed for PFAS, and select samples were analyzed for wastewater tracers, major ions, trace elements, and DOC. Blanks and replicates indicated low bias and variability for PFAS, wastewater tracers, and geochemical compounds.
Twenty-seven of the 117 groundwater sites had PFAS concentrations reported above the detection level, and there were no exceedances of the 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health advisory of 70 nanograms per liter (ng/L) perfluorooctanoic acid plus perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. Twenty-two sites were resampled and showed similar signatures, excluding some springs. Total PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.91 to 80.3 ng/L. The most frequently detected PFAS at groundwater sites were perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS; 11 sites), perfluoropentanoic acid (10 sites), and perfluorohexanoic acid (9 sites). Correlations were found between certain PFAS compounds that suggest similar sources. PFAS were also correlated with tritium, DOC, and nitrate, which indicated that a presence of anthropogenic compounds could in turn indicate a likelihood of PFAS occurrence. In addition, a cluster analysis showed that varying geochemical processes and sources of anthropogenic compounds likely contribute to the PFAS signature of each groundwater sample.
Surface-water samples showed variable total PFAS concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 155.4 ng/L. Sites downstream from urban areas showed numerous PFAS detections. Some undeveloped areas where minimal PFAS detections would be expected had PFAS detections. Correlations between PFAS were found that suggested similar sources. Perfluoropentanoic acid and PFBS were the most frequently detected PFAS, and PFBS had the highest single concentration of 93 ng/L.
Results of the study provide an overview of PFAS occurrences in the water resources of New Mexico along with geochemical context and are used to identify areas for further scientific investigations that could further characterize PFAS occurrences in New Mexico.
Suggested Citation
Travis, R.E., Beisner, K.R., Wilkins, K.L., Jasmann, J.R., Keefe, S.H., and Barber, L.B., 2024, Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water resources of New Mexico, 2020–21 (ver. 1.2, April 2024): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023–5129, 98 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235129.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Quality-Control Data Interpretation
- Aqueous Chemistry
- Multivariate Statistical Relations Between PFAS and Geochemical Indicators
- Limitations of a Statewide Assessment
- Summary
- References Cited
- Appendix 1. Water-Quality Data for Groundwater and Surface-Water Samples
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water resources of New Mexico, 2020–21 |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2023-5129 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20235129 |
| Edition | Version 1.0: January 2024; Version 1.1: March 2024; Version 1.2: April 2024 |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | New Mexico Water Science Center |
| Description | Report: x, 98 p., Appendix: 4; Dataset |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |