What was found in Cave Creek's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 340 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2500 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 270 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2012
Highest in the city: 2370 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1169.9999999999989 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 339 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 120 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 77.41499999999998 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2025 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Chloroform | 31.734999999999996 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.595 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 32.82 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23.265 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.674999999999997 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 16.515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.705 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 16.95000000000001 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11.195 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.7 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 9.739999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.615 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9.325 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 7.855 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.0949999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.02 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.2649999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.5 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.38 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.295 µg/L — DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.6200 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: DESERT HILLS WATER · 4,220 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CAVE CREEK WATER · 5,895 people · 2024 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Cave Creek
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CAVE CREEK WATER | 5,895 |
| DESERT HILLS WATER | 4,220 |
Frequently asked questions about Cave Creek tap water
Is Cave Creek tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Cave Creek. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Cave Creek?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cave Creek, Arizona to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Cave Creek's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cave Creek include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.