Wildfire Aftermath Reveals Toxic Groundwater Contamination in Mora County

In November 2025, a concerning discovery has emerged in Mora County, New Mexico, three years after the devastating Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Groundwater testing has revealed the presence of elevated levels of heavy metals, including antimony, arsenic, and uranium, in private wells across the region.

The state Department of Health is now advising Mora County residents to have their wells tested for heavy metals and to rely on bottled water to avoid exposure. According to Chelsea Langer, bureau chief for the state Health Department Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, "There are potential long-term health effects that can develop over several years if people continue to drink untreated water with these levels of metals."

The contamination was initially detected by Zeigler Geologic Consulting, which has been monitoring wells in the area since 2023 using funding from the county and an anonymous donor. Kate Zeigler, the firm's owner and senior geologist, noted an unexpected increase in antimony and manganese levels this year, which she believes could be due to intense rainfall unearthing contaminants from the wildfire.

Mora County Commissioner Veronica Serna expressed concerns about the water contamination since the fire, stating, "Our acequias were destroyed. That is what recharges our private wells. ... Since the very beginning, I was concerned about our wells being contaminated by everything that burned upstream." The testing, she said, "confirmed my fears."

The source of the heavy metal contamination is still under investigation, but it could be linked to the wildfire or the firefighting efforts. Zeigler noted that the metals could have come from fire suppressants, burned houses, or trees that had absorbed the metals over time. Regardless of the exact source, the presence of these contaminants in the groundwater poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of Mora County residents.