Phoenix, AZ Water Quality Report
Is Phoenix tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Phoenix, Arizona. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Phoenix tap water safe to drink? Phoenix water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 160 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.
What contaminants are in Phoenix water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Phoenix water: lithium (160 ppt), PFBS (0.02 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Phoenix? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Phoenix Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Phoenix drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 160 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 55.84 ppt across 3 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 160 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBS: 0.02 ppt
- PFBA: 0.01 ppt
Lead in Phoenix Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 4 lead samples for Phoenix water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0044 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Phoenix
Phoenix public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Nitrate. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Phoenix: approximately 1,680,992.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Phoenix to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Phoenix Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually