Otero County, NM

ZIP 88081

In ZIP 88081, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: El Paso Water Utilities has 1 contaminant at or over an EPA legal limit; 22 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 30× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 0% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Sterigenics-Santa Teresa Facility (85%), mostly ethylene oxide.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 4.7 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 228,916 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 88081

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityC to F
• Pesticide useC to F
• Neighborhood health statusA to D
• Past wildfire impactsA to C
• Past flood impactsA
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsC to F

Based on 5 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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