Scottsdale, AZ Water Quality Report

Is Scottsdale tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Scottsdale, Arizona. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Scottsdale, AZ tap water safe to drink? Scottsdale, AZ water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 120 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Scottsdale, AZ water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Scottsdale water: PFOS (120 ppt), PFHxS (46 ppt), PFHpA (11 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Scottsdale, AZ? An NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system is the strongest option, removing 90%+ of PFAS along with lead and arsenic. For renters or smaller households in Scottsdale, an NSF-53 certified pitcher (Clearly Filtered, ZeroWater, LifeStraw) is a practical alternative. Ordinary Brita cartridges are not certified for PFAS.

Scottsdale, AZ Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Scottsdale, AZ drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 120 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 12.65 ppt across 5 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 120 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 46 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 11 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBS: 0.02 ppt
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Scottsdale, AZ Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 36 lead samples for Scottsdale water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0654 mg/L (above 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 Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale public water systems have 4 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Chromium, Nitrate, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

The numbers on this page are drawn from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), which covers 66,000+ public water systems nationwide, including those serving Scottsdale, AZ's approximately 241,361 residents.

ZIP Codes Served

85250, 85251, 85252, 85253, 85254

Compare Scottsdale, AZ to Other Cities

Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.

What Scottsdale, Arizona Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Arizona utility publishes annually