ZipCheckup grade for 85253: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Your top priority: review your flood insurance coverage. Check your ZIP → FloodSmart

Health Violations Found
B 71

Paradise Valley, AZ (85253): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 71/100

EPA data combined for 4 water systems mapped to this ZIP (largest mapped system: City of Phoenix)

Health Violations Found PFAS Detected NFIP Claim History

Health-based violation records by water system:

EPA records for the water systems mapped to 85253 in Paradise Valley, AZ contain 12 recorded violations for inclusive record years 2021 through 2026, all mapped systems combined; 1 are marked health-based.

Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SDWIS

Based on EPA Drinking Water FEMA Flood Data U.S. Census CDC Energy Information Admin. USGS Water Data & 9 more federal sources
Latest air quality, EPA records and weather alerts Current data temporarily unavailable
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Water records and current conditions
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Safety Score
B 71/100
Water Quality Issues 1 health-based violation
Lead Risk Below action level 0.0027 mg/L, 90th percentile, sample period ending 2024-12-31
NFIP Claim History Claim records 106 claims
Data confidence: High (direct measurement) Medium (sampled / sub-geography) Low (modeled / inferred) Methodology →

At a Glance

  • Water EPA records for water systems mapped to this ZIP show 1 health-based violation and 11 non-health-based (since 2021).
  • Lead The reported 90th-percentile lead result of 0.0027 mg/L is below the EPA action level for water systems; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
  • PFAS PFAS detected in UCMR5 sampling; see the PFAS section for each compound, compared with the federal PFAS MCL where one exists.
  • Radon EPA Zone 2 - county-level radon potential, not a home measurement.
  • Flood 106 cumulative NFIP claim records. This historical count is not a current property-risk verdict.
Contaminant Summary
Health Violations
12 violations 1 health-based PFAS detected
Report data assembled: Jul 27, 2026 EPA water-system identity: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record EPA violation history: more than two update cycles old Lead, copper and UCMR measurements: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record
B
ZIP-level Home Safety model score: 71 / 100
Bottom 46% of U.S. ZIP codes
4
Water Systems
1,695,000
People Served
1
Health Violations (since 2021)Median is 0
Surface water
Water Source
0.00274 mg/L
Reported Lead Result
Zone 2
County Radon Potential · Moderate
$2000K
Median Home Value597% above state median ($287K)

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Score Breakdown

Overall Home Safety Score: 71/100

This is the published model score. Component and domain values are shown independently; they are not added together on this page.

Canonical components

EPA water compliance
78/100
Observed
PFAS MCL screen
100/100
Observed
EPA radon zone
50/100
Observed
Annual EPA AirData AQI
75/100
Observed

Required domains

Drinking water
89/100
Indoor environment
50/100
Outdoor environment
75/100

Coverage: 4 of 4 components and 3 of 3 domains observed.

Model 4.0.0; series home-safety-v4-cross-vertical.

Safety & Health (7) CRITICAL

Your Water System

ZIP code 85253 in Paradise Valley, Arizona is mapped to the water system City of Phoenix (EPA ID: AZ0407025). This system provides water to approximately 1,695,000 people from surface water sources.

There are 4 community water systems serving this area.

Water Systems Serving This Area

System Name EPA ID Population Source
City of Phoenix AZ0407025 1,695,000 Surface water
Epcor - Paradise Valley/scottsdale AZ0407056 14,107 Surface water
City of Scottsdale AZ0407098 241,361 Surface water
Berneil Water Company AZ0407008 1,388 Groundwater

Other Water Quality Reports in Arizona

Nearby Water Quality Reports

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for City of Phoenix (AZ0407025) on EPA.gov.

4 of the top compounds applied across the surrounding county in USGS pesticide-use estimates appear on EPA drinking-water monitoring lists. See the agricultural pesticide-use section.

📊 EPA Safe Drinking Water · View source →

PFAS Contamination Detected

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with ZIP code 85253.

Detected compounds: PFBS, PFBA.

Highest measured level: 0.016 µg/L

Reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon block filters can reduce PFAS at the tap. Certifications list the compounds covered: an NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 claim for PFOA/PFOS does not cover every PFAS, so check that the product lists the compounds detected here.

📊 EPA UCMR5 · View source →
Environmental Hazards (11) HIGH
Home & Infrastructure (6) OK
Cost & Community (9) HIGH

CPSC product recall notices

These national notices are not matched to this ZIP code or water system.

View all recalls →

📊 CPSC · View source →

Protect Your Home in Paradise Valley

Based on local data for ZIP 85253, these services may benefit homeowners in your area.

Based on local data for your area. Use the tools below to explore your options.

Home & Flood Insurance

The ZIP code for this report in Paradise Valley has 106 FEMA flood claims on record. Standard homeowner policies don't cover flood damage - make sure you're protected.

Typical cost: Flood insurance: premiums vary by property and flood zone; request a quote

Check Your Flood Zone (Free)

FEMA flood map lookup - see if your property is in a flood zone

Free tip: Check your FEMA flood zone at msc.fema.gov (free lookup)

Gutter Installation & Repair

The median home in 85253 was built around 1983. Aging gutters can cause foundation damage, basement flooding, and mold - a professional assessment can prevent costly repairs.

Typical cost: Gutter installation: typically $1,000–$2,500 for a standard home

Estimate Your Home Maintenance Costs

Window Replacement

The median build year of homes in Paradise Valley is 1983; check the age and condition of your own windows. ENERGY STAR windows can save $101–$583/year on energy bills.

Typical cost: Window replacement: typically $300–$800 per window installed

Estimate Your Home Maintenance Costs

Service recommendations are based on public data for this ZIP code (FEMA, Census ACS, NWS). Actual needs vary by property. By calling, your information will be shared with an independent service provider. ZipCheckup may receive compensation. Cost estimates are approximate and vary by property, condition, and contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water in 85253 safe to drink?

EPA SDWIS records 12 violations since 2021 across the water systems mapped to ZIP 85253 (primary system: City of Phoenix), including 1 health-based. The violation table above shows which system each record belongs to. ZipCheckup last updated this page in July 2026. The federal source release date is unavailable, so that month is not presented as source currency.

Where does 85253's water come from?

The recorded water source for City of Phoenix, a system mapped to ZIP code 85253, is Surface water. This system serves approximately 1,695,000 people.

How does Paradise Valley water compare to the national average?

Paradise Valley's Home Safety Score ranks lower than 54% of U.S. ZIP codes, and at or above 57% within Arizona.

How can I get my water tested in Paradise Valley?

If City of Phoenix supplies your home, contact it for its Consumer Confidence Report; otherwise contact the water utility that serves your address, or hire a certified lab for independent home water testing. The EPA recommends annual testing if you use a private well.

Is lead a concern in 85253 tap water?

The Lead and Copper Rule record selected for 85253 reports a 90th-percentile lead result of 0.00274 mg/L for a water system mapped to this ZIP (record date 2024-12-31). The EPA action level is 0.015 mg/L. This result is below the EPA action level; it does not show the lead level in each home.

What is the radon risk for 85253?

85253 is mapped to a county in EPA Radon Zone 2 (moderate county-level radon potential; EPA recommends testing every home), located in Maricopa County. EPA radon zones range from Zone 1 (highest county-level potential) to Zone 3 (lowest). Testing your home is recommended regardless of zone.

Are there PFAS (forever chemicals) in 85253's water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in samples from water systems mapped to 85253. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 specifically for PFOA/PFOS reduction can reduce PFAS.

What does the NFIP claim history show for ZIP 85253?

FEMA records contain 106 flood insurance claims filed in ZIP code 85253; the recorded rated-zone value (the most frequent one if there are several claims) is X, which is claims evidence and may differ from the current FEMA map zone for a property. This is a substantial claim history, but claim count is not a count of distinct events or properties. Review FEMA's map for the specific property.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Paradise Valley, AZ (85253): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 71/100. https://zipcheckup.com/report/85253/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-report-85253,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Paradise Valley, AZ (85253): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 71/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/report/85253/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

Nearby ZIP Code Reports

Water quality comparison for ZIP codes near 85253

ZIP Code City, State Distance Grade Violations
85250 Scottsdale, AZ 3.5 mi B 7
85258 Scottsdale, AZ 3.8 mi B 5
85028 Phoenix, AZ 3.9 mi B 3
85018 Phoenix, AZ 4.1 mi B 8
85261 Scottsdale, AZ 4.3 mi N/A 0
85267 Scottsdale, AZ 4.3 mi N/A 0
85271 Scottsdale, AZ 4.3 mi N/A 0
85251 Scottsdale, AZ 4.5 mi B 10
85254 Scottsdale, AZ 4.6 mi B 8
85016 Phoenix, AZ 5.4 mi B 3

Contaminants Detected in 85253

Learn more about the contaminants found in your water supply:

Overall safety breakdown

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