Nickel

Where It Comes From in New Mexico

In New Mexico, nickel makes its way into groundwater and surface water through a combination of natural and human-made pathways. Nickel is naturally released into aquifers through the weathering and dissolution of nickel-rich rocks and soils over time.²

Historically, New Mexico’s industrial landscape has significantly impacted local water supplies; major sources of nickel contamination include discharges from electroplating facilities, oil refineries, and abandoned mines.² For example, groundwater in the central mining area of the Tyrone open-pit copper mine in Grant County has shown nickel concentrations exceeding state standards by more than 10 times due to extensive leaching operations.³

In some rural and tribal areas, nickel levels can vary wildly, as seen in a study of unregulated water sources across the Western Navajo Nation which found that while the median nickel concentration was relatively low (1.09 μg/L), some sources had extreme maximum concentrations reaching up to 560 μg/L.⁴

Health Concerns

While trace amounts of nickel are difficult to avoid, consuming elevated levels in drinking water can lead to both acute and chronic health issues:

Allergic Dermatitis: The most common adverse health effect of nickel exposure is contact dermatitis.⁹ For the 10% to 20% of the population already sensitized to nickel, often from jewelry or clothing fasteners, drinking water with elevated nickel can trigger systemic contact dermatitis, causing severe eczema flare-ups across the body.⁶

Regulations and Safe Drinking Limits

The regulatory framework for nickel in New Mexico is uniquely complex compared to other heavy metals:

Human Health Standards: Unlike arsenic or uranium, New Mexico does not have a specific numeric Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL, for nickel in domestic water supplies.² Instead, human consumption is protected under a broader narrative standard for toxic pollutants, which dictates that such chemicals must not be present at concentrations that unreasonably threaten to injure human health.²

Federal Guidelines: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, maintains a lifetime health advisory level of 0.7 milligrams per liter for nickel in drinking water.²

Agricultural Standards: The state maintains a numeric standard of 0.2 mg/L strictly for irrigation use.² For livestock and horses, the recommended upper safe level of nickel is 1 mg/L.⁵

How Climate Change Exacerbates Exposure Risks

Uncontrollable climate changes and ongoing environmental degradation significantly increase the risk of heavy metal contamination in our drinking water. In New Mexico and similar arid environments, extreme weather events exacerbate these risks in two primary ways:

• Wildfires: Environmental events like wildfires, which are increasing in severity, create urgent challenges for water quality by rapidly altering the landscape and groundwater chemistry.¹¹, ¹² Following massive blazes like New Mexico's 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, post-wildfire landscape changes can cause heavy metals to leach directly into the water supply. Additionally, the chemical fire suppressants used to battle these large-scale wildfires frequently contain heavy metals, which can subsequently wash into groundwater and contaminate private wells.¹¹, ¹²

• Droughts and Reduced Dilution: Severe drought conditions reduce the natural flow rates of surface water and groundwater catchments. ¹¹, ¹² This lack of water eliminates the natural dilution of trace metals, leading to much higher, more dangerous concentrations of contaminants such as nickel. ¹¹, ¹² Furthermore, extreme droughts can force communities to rely on alternative, lower-quality water sources just to meet basic needs. For instance, in one rural town, a severe drought prompted local authorities to supplement the drinking water supply with groundwater from an underground mine, directly leading to elevated nickel exposure for the public. ¹¹, ¹²

How to Mitigate Exposure Risks

Approximately 13% of New Mexicans rely on private wells, which do not receive the same routine testing and regulatory oversight as municipal water systems.² If you use a private well, here are the recommended steps for safety:

• Test Your Water: The New Mexico Environment Department strongly recommends having your well water tested at a certified laboratory, as this is the only reliable way to know exactly what is in your water.⁸

• Do Not Boil Contaminated Water: If testing reveals elevated levels of heavy metals like nickel, boiling your water will not make it safe, as boiling evaporates the water and actually concentrates the harmful metals, making the water more toxic to consume.⁸

• Use Safe Alternatives: If your water is contaminated, switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking.⁸ Because nickel is poorly absorbed through intact skin, it is generally safe to continue using the well water for washing hands, doing laundry, and cleaning dishes, though individuals with severe nickel allergies should consult their physician.⁸˒¹⁰