Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Scottsdale, AZ tap water
32 contaminants were measured in the Scottsdale, AZ water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 32
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Copper
- Service area
- AZ
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds detected in Scottsdale, 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.
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)above national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Scottsdale, AZ's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 24 sources.
Source
- IN-U070980SI - CAP CANAL
- WL-55-626823 -
- WL-55-626827 -
- WL-55-626830 -
- + 20 more
Treatment
- TP001 - CAP
- TP002 - CL2
- TP232 - CL2, AS
- + 5 more
Distribution
Also buys water from PHOENIX CITY OF.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Scottsdale, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
EDB worst: 2017 | 0.000086 mg/L 1.7× | 0.00005 mg/L | '17 |
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.102 mg/L 1.3× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2012 | 0.0096 mg/L 96% near national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2016 | 7 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2018 | 6.4 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'14'15'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2019 | 0.984 mg/L within 4.5× the national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2012 | 0.0276 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2018 | 0.0424 mg/L within 4.2× the national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '14'15'17'18'19 |
DICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.001 mg/L within | 0.005 mg/L | '12'13 |
GROSS ALPHA worst: 2014 | 2.7 pCi/L within | 15 pCi/L | '14'15'17 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2014 | 0.7 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2014 | 0.7 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '14 |
SELENIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0027 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ETHYLBENZENE worst: 2018 | 0.00055 mg/L within | 0.7 mg/L | '18 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2018 | 0.003 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '13'18'19 |
URANIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0052 ug/L within below national p90 | 30 ug/L | '14'15'17 |
COPPER worst: 2014 | 0.235 mg/L below national p90 | — | '14'17 |
LEAD worst: 2014 | 0.0069 mg/L | — | '14'17 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.3 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 250 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.2MaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TemperatureThe measured temperature of the water sample. | 91MaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 4.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 710 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.65 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 9.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.1 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 88 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| GermaniumA trace metalloid found in some source water. | 0.024 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.04 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 37 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.61 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 112 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.056 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.2 %AverageSystem-wide | 5 %MCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | 0.08 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 170 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 253 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Scottsdale, AZ's water
+Is Scottsdale, AZ tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Scottsdale, AZ water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Copper and Barium. 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 Scottsdale, AZ tap water?
32 contaminants were measured in Scottsdale, AZ's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 15 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 Scottsdale, AZ tap water?
2 contaminants in Scottsdale, AZ's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Copper (170.0× the limit); Barium (39.5× 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 Scottsdale, AZ tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Copper, at 170.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Scottsdale, AZ tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Arsenic. 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 Scottsdale, AZ's 2024 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 Scottsdale, 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 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.