Drinking water quality · 2025
· Verified
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 — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 29
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Total Dissolved Solids
- Service area
- AZ
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
3 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)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)2.1× the national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)above national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
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.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
3 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Phoenix, AZ
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
BROMATE worst: 2012 | 0.011 mg/L 1.1× | 0.01 mg/L | '12'14'15'16 |
TTHM worst: 2017 | 0.087 mg/L 1.1× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2012 | 0.0104 mg/L 1.0× near national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2017 | 9 mg/L 90% | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2015 | 0.048 mg/L 80% | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0752 mg/L within 7.5× the national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLORITE worst: 2013 | 0.503 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2014 | 2.4 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '12'13'14'18 |
GROSS ALPHA worst: 2018 | 3.2 pCi/L within | 15 pCi/L | '12'13'14'15'18'19 |
BENZO A PYRENE worst: 2018 | 0.00004 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.0002 mg/L | '18 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2016 | 0.8 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2018 | 0.8 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '13'14'16'17'18'19 |
SELENIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0034 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '12'13'14 |
BARIUM worst: 2017 | 0.13 mg/L within near national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
THALLIUM worst: 2018 | 0.00006 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '18 |
TWOFOURD worst: 2017 | 0.00038 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.07 mg/L | '17 |
PICLORAM worst: 2012 | 0.00019 mg/L within | 0.5 mg/L | '12 |
URANIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0074 ug/L within below national p90 | 30 ug/L | '12'13'14'15'18'19 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2017 | 0.0011 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '17'18 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.971 mg/L above national p90 | — | '12'15'16'18 |
LEAD worst: 2012 | 0.0075 mg/L | — | '12'15'16'18 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 464–716 mg/LRangeSample Results | 500 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 6.6–8.8RangeSample Results | 6.5MCL | 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. | 172–17.6 mg/LRangeSample 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 |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 1Highest single sampleMeasurement | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–87 ug/LRangeSample Results | 100 ug/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–30 ug/LRangeSample Results | 300 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 91–183 mg/LRangeSample Results | None set | Detected — no federal 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/LMRDL | 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 |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| XylenesA group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. | 0.0025 mg/LAverageAnnual Average | 10 mg/LMCL | 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 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Total Dissolved Solids and pH. 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. 20 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?
2 contaminants in Phoenix, AZ's 2025 report sit at or above the federal limit: Total Dissolved Solids (1.4× the limit); pH (1.4× 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 Total Dissolved Solids, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Phoenix, AZ tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chromium, Total. 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.