State to offer free water filters to residents of La Cieneguilla, La Cienega for PFAS

By Alaina Mencinger | Sante Fe New Mexico | November 13, 2025

Read the full article by Alaina Mencinger (Sante Fe New Mexico)

"Residents of La Cieneguilla and La Cienega who have been affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” will now have access to free private well testing and filtration systems from the New Mexico Environment Department.

The state agency is partnering with TLC Plumbing to install point-of-use and whole-house filtration systems in the area.

In 2023, PFAS were detected at a former New Mexico National Guard site near Santa Fe. Soon after, five out of six residential wells tested by Santa Fe County were found to be contaminated with PFAS, three in excess of standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. PFAS, which earn the “forever chemicals” title by their persistence in the environment and the human body, are a group of chemicals associated with several dangerous health impacts, including low birth weights and increased risks of certain types of cancer."