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FACT BRIEF

Is there an unusually high level of lithium in El Paso’s water supply?

By Diego Mendoza Moyers
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YES

Average lithium concentrations in El Paso were 55 micrograms per liter from samples collected in July 2023 to January 2024 – about 42% higher than the average level of lithium detected across water utilities in Texas and New Mexico, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data shows.

An April 2024 EPA report shows that about 70% of water utilities in those states detected lithium in their water supplies. Lithium occurs naturally in the groundwater in dry areas of the western U.S. like El Paso that rely on groundwater and that were once ancient seabeds.

Lithium in El Paso’s drinking water is roughly 1,000 times less concentrated than lithium that’s used to treat mental disorders. El Paso Water’s CEO and an Arizona State University researcher said it would be prohibitively expensive to remove lithium from El Paso’s drinking water, with little public health benefit.

See a full discussion of this at El Paso Matters
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry Lithium in groundwater used for drinking-water supply in the United States
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry Lithium occurrence in drinking water sources of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Data Finder
Environmental Protection Agency Technical Fact Sheet: Lithium in drinking water
American Water Works Association Lithium in Drinking Water Comparison of exposure sources, regulatory guidelines and public discussion of risks and benefit
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El Paso Matters
El Paso Matters is a member-supported nonpartisan media organization that uses journalism to expand civic capacity in our region. We inform and engage with people in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and neighboring communities to create solutions-driven conversations about complex issues shaping our region.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.