What was found in Phoenix's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 9000 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 6020 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3110 µg/L 239% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 940 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 503 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 160 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/9 | UCMR-5 |
| Barium | 130 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 110 µg/L 733% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 8/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 87 µg/L 109% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 75.2 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 48 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 18 µg/L 180% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 8/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 11 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 7.4 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.9 µg/L 7.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.7 pCi/L 25% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.4 pCi/L 48% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.1 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.1 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.3800 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Picloram | 0.1900 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0600 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0400 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0160 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0140 mg/L 93% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 9/9 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Phoenix
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PHOENIX CITY OF | 1,695,000 |
| EPCOR - NORTH EAST AGUA FRIA | 14,723 |
| ROSE VALLEY WATER COMPANY | 6,202 |
| FEDERAL CORRECTION INSTITUTION | 1,500 |
| ADJC ADOBE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL | 680 |
| ORANGEWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK | 500 |
| MICHIGAN TRAILER PARK | 400 |
| BEARDSLEY WATER COMPANY 3 | 96 |
| 67 AVE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Phoenix tap water
Is Phoenix tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Phoenix. 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 Phoenix?
9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Phoenix, Arizona to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Phoenix's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Phoenix include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Chlorite. The full list, with the highest level found 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.