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SANTA FE, N.M., Sept. 21, 2026—Santa Fe County and the New Mexico Environment Department are working together to map the PFAS contamination in the La Cieneguilla area of Santa Fe County.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances), also called forever chemicals, were reported in the groundwater near the Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility in early 2023. Santa Fe County responded by testing wells in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla and found contamination in several of them. The County then secured funding from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and hired INTERA, Incorporated, an environmental and water resource consulting firm, to study the extent, movement, and possible sources of PFAS in the groundwater southwest of the City of Santa Fe.

Santa Fe County’s response to PFAS contamination has focused on testing, investigation, public outreach, and reducing exposure. The County has encouraged the use of filtration systems, and state programs provided expanded testing and installed filters for affected residents.

To make better progress, NMED and Santa Fe County entered a data sharing agreement earlier this year, a first of its kind between the two entities. This agreement allows scientists from both organizations to share information about their strategies and testing results. Sharing information helps scientists avoid duplicating efforts and provides a stronger foundation for planning the next steps.

“This data sharing agreement gives opportunities for interaction between our scientists so they can learn from each other in real time. This gives us the awareness of who is doing what, why they are doing it, and how we can learn together as we move forward,” said Andrew Hautzinger, NMED Special Projects Coordinator.

NMED recently completed a new round of private well water quality testing in Santa Fe County, sampling 116 wells in La Cieneguilla and La Cienega. Regulated forms of PFAS were detected in 26 wells in the La Cieneguilla community, while 17 wells in La Cienega showed the presence of unregulated PFAS compounds. NMED has installed 166 PFAS water filters in La Cieneguilla.

The County will use those results to guide decisions about sampling locations in areas that have not yet been tested. “We are trying to get a grasp on the extent and concentration of the contamination and how far it has spread throughout the community. We want to know if the contamination is moving, if it’s stationary, or if there’s a continuous introduction of contaminants into the groundwater. This will help inform the next steps,” said Santa Fe County Utilities Division Director Travis Soderquist.

The data‑sharing agreement also allows NMED to provide the County with findings from the Environmental Protection Agency CERCLA investigations into the PFAS contaminations on Santa Fe County property at the Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility, and to do so in a timely manner.

As all parties search for an effective and permanent solution to the PFAS-contaminated aquifer that now sits below La Cieneguilla, many are focused on the potential of forming a public water system that would distribute treated drinking water to the La Cieneguilla community members. Spearheading this effort is the newly formed La Cieneguilla Water Company, a not-for-profit organization that has secured federal funds to evaluate the different options to form a public water system. Company President Jose “Chappy” Villegas was thrilled to hear about the data sharing agreement. “It is very encouraging to see these government entities working closely together, as the data sharing agreement will support better science happening more quickly, which should pay important dividends to the served community members,” Villegas said.

This is a shared press release between Santa Fe County and New Mexico Environment Department.

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