Tempe, AZ: 8 Health Violations — 81/100 (2026)
8 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Public water monitoring in Tempe shows a safety record well above the AZ median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Tempe Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Tempe, AZ
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Tempe.
Tempe Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 192 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0044 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.3.
Water Systems Serving Tempe
Residential water in Tempe, AZ is supplied by 3 separate utilities — not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 6 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Tempe, Arizona (population ~191,712), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 874,248 people region-wide.
8 of 8 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tempe: B (81/100)
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
Tempe water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0044 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): 8 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 | 54 | 8 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 36 | 8 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 27 | 8 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 27 | 8 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 27 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85280 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85281 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85282 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85283 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85284 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85285 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85287 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
| 85289 | B | 24 | 1 | City of Tempe |
All ZIP Codes in Tempe
- 85280 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85281 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85282 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85283 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85284 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85285 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85287 [B] — 24 violations ⚠
- 85289 [B] — 24 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.
CDC Health Data for Tempe
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 Tempe
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Tempe: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Tempe, the resulting ratio is low — a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Tempe are relatively low compared to home values. The $950–$3,113 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 34% above the Arizona average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Tempe
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 Tempe 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.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Tempe
Although Tempe's flood history doesn't reach high-severity thresholds, NFIP data documents 40 claims and FEMA maps place 50% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones — a combined profile that makes flood-related water quality considerations a reasonable planning baseline.
Tempe has a moderate flood history with 40 FEMA claims averaging $7,180 per payout. 50% 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>$1,900</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Tempe, AZ