Glendale, AZ: 96 Health Violations — 69/100 (2026)
12 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Glendale, AZ: mid-range safety grade, uneven compliance across service areas.
How Glendale Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Glendale, AZ
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Glendale score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Glendale Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 816 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 45% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,083 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.3.
Who Supplies Your Water in Glendale
Throughout Glendale, AZ, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 9 total systems — independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 12 ZIP codes in Glendale, Arizona (population ~311,041), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 2,187,347 people region-wide.
12 of 12 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 96 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Glendale: C (69/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Glendale water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0015 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 12 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 377 | 12 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 156 | 12 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 117 | 12 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 39 | 12 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 39 | 12 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85301 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85302 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85303 | B | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85304 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85305 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85306 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85307 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85308 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85310 | B | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
| 85311 | C | 68 | 8 | City of Glendale |
All ZIP Codes in Glendale
- 85301 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85302 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85303 [B] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85304 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85305 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85306 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85307 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85308 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85310 [B] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85311 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85312 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
- 85318 [C] — 68 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Glendale
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Glendale Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Glendale
With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When trying to understand water quality at the household level, the year a home was built often matters more than any city-wide water report. That's because the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in plumbing, and the earlier phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, created sharp discontinuities in residential plumbing risk by construction era. Glendale's median build year of 1990 puts the city in the transition zone: a substantial share of the housing stock postdates the solder ban, but a comparable fraction predates it — with the oldest homes carrying both the solder risk and the pipe risk simultaneously. Whether any individual household sits on the safer or riskier side of these thresholds is the key question, and it's one the city-wide median alone can't answer.
Most homes in Glendale were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Glendale Homeowners
Given current Glendale valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low — most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Glendale are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,008–$3,883 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 13% above the Arizona average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Glendale
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Glendale have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 45% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Glendale
83 FEMA flood insurance claims are on file for Glendale, and 58% of local ZIP codes fall within federally designated flood zones — enough to put flood exposure on the planning radar, though short of the concentrated-risk threshold where treatment-system vulnerability becomes a primary consideration.
Glendale has a moderate flood history with 83 FEMA claims averaging $9,892 per payout. 58% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,083</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Glendale
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Glendale's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Glendale, AZ