Water Quality in Phoenix, AZ: 35 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
9 water systems · 43 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 35 violations across 43 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Phoenix. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Phoenix
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85043 | 12 | 3 | View report → |
| 85083 | 10 | 2 | View report → |
| 85086 | 10 | 1 | View report → |
| 85018 | 8 | 1 | View report → |
| 85050 | 8 | 1 | View report → |
| 85027 | 7 | 4 | View report → |
| 85003 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85004 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85006 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85007 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85008 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85009 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85012 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85013 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
| 85014 | 3 | 1 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Phoenix, Arizona has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 43 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 35 violations, including 7 health-based violations across 43 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Phoenix is 0.0027 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 43 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 53% of homes built before 1986, Phoenix has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Phoenix
Phoenix is served by 9 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 1,454,993 people live in the area (78 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Phoenix. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Phoenix
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Phoenix Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Phoenix's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 49 | 43 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 45 | 43 | Yes |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | N/A | 6 | 2 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | N/A | 5 | 3 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | N/A | 4 | 3 | No |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 0.01 mg/L | 3 | 1 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 3 | 2 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | 2 | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Phoenix (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Health-based violations have decreased from 2 in 2022 to 1 in 2026, indicating improving compliance.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Phoenix. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-04 | EPA Formal Action |
| 2026-03-31 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-03-30 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-03-30 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-03-30 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-03-26 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-06 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-06 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2025-12-30 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-11-17 | State Order Extension |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-05-04.
Phoenix vs. Nearby Arizona Cities
How Phoenix's water quality compares to similar cities in Arizona:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 43 | 35 | 9 | 1,454,993 |
| Tucson | 37 | 361 | 50 | 916,333 |
| Mesa | 13 | 203 | 5 | 550,266 |
| Glendale | 9 | 22 | 6 | 311,041 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Phoenix
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Phoenix's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 85043 | 12 | 3 |
| 85083 | 10 | 2 |
| 85086 | 10 | 1 |
| 85018 | 8 | 1 |
| 85050 | 8 | 1 |
| 85027 | 7 | 4 |
| 85003 | 3 | 1 |
| 85004 | 3 | 1 |
| 85006 | 3 | 1 |
| 85007 | 3 | 1 |
| 85008 | 3 | 1 |
| 85009 | 3 | 1 |
| 85012 | 3 | 1 |
| 85013 | 3 | 1 |
| 85014 | 3 | 1 |
Common Questions About Phoenix Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Phoenix, Arizona:
Is Phoenix water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Phoenix's 9 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Phoenix tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 7 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Phoenix? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Phoenix vs. Arizona Average
Understanding how Phoenix compares to the broader Arizona average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Phoenix.
ZIP Codes in Phoenix
Phoenix spans 78 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 43 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
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
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.