Drinking water quality · 2025
What's in Phoenix, AZ tap water
29 contaminants were measured in the Phoenix, AZ water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 29
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- Turbidity
- Service area
- AZ
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds detected in Phoenix, AZ
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Phoenix, AZ's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 21 sources.
Source
- WL-55-626582 -
- WL-55-626610 -
- WL-55-626624 -
- WL-55-626625 -
- + 17 more
Treatment
- TP402 - CLO2, 24TH ST
- TP404 - CLO2, VAL VISTA
- TP405 - CLO2, UNION HILLS MOD I
- + 15 more
Distribution
Also buys water from TEMPE CITY OF, GLENDALE CITY OF, and 1 more.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent Aug 2014resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Jan 2021resolved
- Other1 violation on recordresolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 1 NTUHighest single sampleMeasurement | None set | At or above the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 121–167 mg/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 172–302 mg/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 6.6–8.8RangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TemperatureThe measured temperature of the water sample. | 47–92RangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.3Running annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 464–716 mg/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 0–87 ug/LRangeSample Results | None set | Approaching the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 4–68 ug/LRangeSample Results | None set | Approaching the limit |
| Chlorite | 0–0.7 mg/LRangeSample Results | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 0.6–26 ug/LRangeSample Results | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | Not detected ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 7 ug/LAverageAnnual Average | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.3 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 3 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.007–0.13 mg/LRangeSample Results | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–2.2 ug/LRangeSample Results | None set | Within the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–30 ug/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 70.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 91–183 mg/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 3.8 mg/LAverageAnnual Average | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.3–1.1 mg/LRangeSample Results | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.84 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0–0.8 pCi/LRangeSample Results | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0–4.6 ug/LRangeSample Results | 30 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–1.6 pCi/LRangeSample Results | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| XylenesA group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. | 0.0025 mg/LAverageAnnual Average | None set | Within the limit |
People also ask about Phoenix, AZ's water
+Is Phoenix, AZ tap water safe to drink in 2025?
The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for the Phoenix, AZ water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Turbidity. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Phoenix, AZ tap water?
29 contaminants were measured in Phoenix, AZ's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and disinfection byproducts. 8 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Phoenix, AZ tap water?
One contaminant in Phoenix, AZ's 2025 report sits at or above the federal limit: Turbidity (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Phoenix, AZ tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2025 report is Turbidity, at 1.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Phoenix, AZ tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chromium and TTHM. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Phoenix, AZ's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Phoenix, AZ's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.