What was found in Surprise'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 | 6450 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 6450 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1990 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 896 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 260 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 118 µg/L 148% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 95.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/9 | UCMR-5 |
| Chromium | 63 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 60 µg/L 400% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 53.2 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 39.9 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 15.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 10.8 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 10 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 7.4 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 7.2 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.5 pCi/L 43% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.7 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.1 pCi/L 42% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.3200 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 9/9 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Surprise
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EPCOR - AGUA FRIA | 127,718 |
| SURPRISE CITY OF - MOUNTAIN VISTA | 40,007 |
| DESERT OASIS | 23,963 |
| BEARDSLEY WATER COMPANY 1 | 10,263 |
| SURPRISE, CITY OF BUENA VISTA | 520 |
| PEAK VIEW RANCH | 508 |
| SAGUARO VIEW MGMT COMPANY | 400 |
| WHITE TANK WELL INC | 87 |
| TWO TANKS COMMUNITY WELL | 76 |
Frequently asked questions about Surprise tap water
Is Surprise tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Surprise. 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 Surprise?
9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Surprise, Arizona to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Surprise's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Surprise include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. 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.