Tucson, AZ Water Quality Report
Is Tucson tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Tucson, Arizona. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Tucson tap water safe to drink? Tucson water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 228 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.
What contaminants are in Tucson water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Tucson water: lithium (228 ppt), PFOS (0.01 ppt), PFOA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Tucson? 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.
Tucson Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Tucson drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 228 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 37.11 ppt across 7 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 228 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOS: 0.01 ppt
- PFOA: 0.01 ppt
- PFHxS: 0.01 ppt
- PFHxA: 0 ppt
Lead in Tucson Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 91 lead samples for Tucson water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.01 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 Tucson
Tucson public water systems have 6 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Surface Water Treatment Rule, 1035, Lead & Copper Rule. 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 Tucson: approximately 542,629.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Tucson to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Tucson 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