Taos, NM
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Taos in New Mexico · Population: 34,516
SDWIS systems such as TAOS MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM; QUESTA WATER SYSTEM; EL PRADO WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT; NPL sites such as Chevron Questa Mine anchor Taos, NM's EPA extract. Derived burden score 20/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
No TRI Form R facilities sit in Taos in this extract; water coverage still lists TAOS MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM; QUESTA WATER SYSTEM; EL PRADO WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT. AQS monitors logged median AQI 16 / peak 76 in 2024.
Burden score 20/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Taos -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 354 (97%) | 11 | 0 | 76 |
| 2023 | 332 (95%) | 18 | 0 | 67 |
| 2022 | 323 (90%) | 36 | 0 | 86 |
| 2021 | 290 (90%) | 32 | 1 | 108 |
| 2020 | 310 (86%) | 50 | 0 | 68 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in New Mexico, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (34)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| TAOS MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM | 5,528 | 0 |
| QUESTA WATER SYSTEM | 2,337 | 5 |
| EL PRADO WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT | 1,076 | 4 |
| VILLAGE OF TAOS SKI VALLEY | 1,025 | 4 |
| LLANO QUEMADO MDWCA | 800 | 45 |
| RANCHOS DE TAOS MDWCA | 750 | 29 |
| TALPA MDWCA | 700 | 9 |
| RED RIVER WATER SYSTEM | 679 | 10 |
| PENASCO MDWCA | 549 | 4 |
| ARROYO SECO MDWCA | 444 | 1 |
| UNION DEL LLANO MDWCA | 400 | 8 |
| VALLE ESCONDIDO HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION | 354 | 0 |
| RIO LUCIO MDWCA | 342 | 6 |
| LOWER DES MONTES MDWCA | 319 | 2 |
| COSTILLA MDWCA | 244 | 12 |
| EL SALTO MDWCA AND SA | 232 | 0 |
| CERRO REGIONAL MDWCA/SWA | 232 | 10 |
| UPPER DES MONTES MDWCA | 222 | 1 |
| UPPER RANCHITOS MDWCASW | 222 | 9 |
| CANON MDWCA | 200 | 7 |
| UPPER ARROYO HONDO MDWCA | 195 | 37 |
| LOWER ARROYO HONDO MDWCA | 180 | 3 |
| SAN CRISTOBAL MDWCA | 165 | 0 |
| RODARTE MDWCA | 115 | 10 |
| WEST RIM MDWUA | 113 | 1 |
| VADITO MDWCA | 111 | 20 |
| VIGILS TRAILER PARK | 105 | 6 |
| VALDEZ MDWCA | 100 | 0 |
| EL RANCHO MHP TAOS | 72 | 12 |
| LAS HACIENDAS HOMEOWNERS WUA | 72 | 6 |
| EL VALLE DE LOS RANCHOS W & SD | 48 | 0 |
| LA LAMA MDWCA | 45 | 4 |
| EAGLE ROCK VILLAGE | 35 | 18 |
| BMG TRAILER PARK | 30 | 22 |
Superfund Sites (1)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chevron Questa Mine | NPL Site | 50.00 |
Cities in Taos (14)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Taos, New Mexico? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Taos? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Taos? ▼
What is the air quality in Taos? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Taos? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Taos? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.