Chaves County, NM

ZIP 88253

In ZIP 88253, 3 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Cottonwood Water Mdwca meets every EPA legal limit; 12 contaminants are above health goals, led by thallium at 3.4× 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: Hollyfrontier Navajo Refining LLC - Artesia Refinery (60%), mostly benzene.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 5.4 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 59,640 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 88253

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesA
• Oil and gas wellsD
• Parks and nature nearbyC
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityB to C
• Pesticide useD
• Neighborhood health statusC to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsA
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsB to C

Based on 2 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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