Tempe, AZ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 56/100
8 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Tempe: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Tempe lands in the middle of the grade scale in AZ; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Tempe Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Tempe Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0046 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.3.
Water Systems Serving Tempe
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 3 tied to Tempe, AZ.
- D
- D
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Tempe, Arizona (population ~191,712), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 872,361 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 8 ZIP codes.
1 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (25%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tempe: C (56/100)
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
Tempe water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0046 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
8 of 8 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Bromate | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| 2,4-D | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85281 | D | 31 | 0 | City of Tempe |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85282 | C | City of Tempe | 165,000 |
| 85283 | C | City of Tempe | 165,000 |
| 85284 | C | City of Tempe | 165,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Tempe
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 Tempe
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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
Relative to home values, Tempe remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Tempe can be compared with local home values. The $400–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 34% above the Arizona average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Tempe
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Tempe do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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 Tempe
Historical NFIP data for Tempe contains 40 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,865. 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 $600 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 Tempe
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Total organic carbon, listed in the water-quality records for Tempe: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Tempe, AZ