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.
Although much of Tempe meets baseline drinking water standards, some AZ-tracked service areas show violations that merit a closer look - particularly for older housing stock.
How Tempe Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Tempe Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0046 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 3 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Contaminant 1011 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Atrazine | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2105 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 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). 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.
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 <strong>$1,900</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 Tempe
- 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 Chlorite can reduce the most common contaminant found in Tempe's water.
- 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