Prescott, AZ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 51/100
6 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Prescott: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
In recent EPA cycles, Prescott shows a persistent below-average water quality pattern within AZ - documented violations span multiple service areas and have appeared consistently across reporting periods.
How Prescott Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Prescott Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 83 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0015 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.61 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Prescott
Across Prescott, AZ, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently - managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 8 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Prescott, Arizona (population ~65,412), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 103,605 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Prescott: D (51/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Prescott water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0015 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 31 | 3 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 20 | 4 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 4 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 10 | 4 |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 10 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86305 | D | 72 | 1 | City of Prescott |
| 86301 | D | 49 | 1 | City of Prescott |
| 86303 | D | 49 | 1 | City of Prescott |
| 86313 | D | 38 | 1 | City of Prescott |
All ZIP Codes in Prescott
- 86301 [D] - 49 violations ⚠
- 86302
- 86303 [D] - 49 violations ⚠
- 86304
- 86305 [D] - 72 violations ⚠
- 86313 [D] - 38 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Prescott
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Prescott
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Prescott: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Because property values in Prescott comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Prescott are relatively low compared to home values. The $967–$3,733 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 64% above the Arizona average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Prescott
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.
Lead risk in Prescott appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Prescott
Historical NFIP data for Prescott contains 65 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,099. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
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. The <strong>$2,000</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Prescott
- 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Prescott's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Prescott, AZ