Phoenix draws about 97-99% of its water from the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers (delivered by SRP and the Central Arizona Project canal), with the rest from about 20 city wells. The water is very hard: the City of Phoenix's 2025 water quality report lists hardness of 172-302 ppm (10-17.6 grains per gallon) and dissolved solids of 464-716 ppm. Beyond hardness, naturally occurring arsenic and other contaminants and PFAS are the main health questions. Phoenix's UCMR5 results found only two short-chain PFAS (PFBA at 5-6 ppt and PFBS at 7-16 ppt) and no PFOA or PFOS, while PFAS from Luke Air Force Base has contaminated wells run by other West Valley utilities near the base. A reverse osmosis system handles all three concerns. For taste alone, a carbon pitcher filter helps.
Is Phoenix tap water safe to drink? Phoenix tap water meets EPA drinking water standards. Its 2025 water quality report lists arsenic up to 8.5 ppb (highest running annual average 7 ppb, under the 10 ppb federal limit), two short-chain PFAS at low parts-per-trillion levels, and very hard water (172-302 ppm). Separately, PFAS from Luke Air Force Base has contaminated groundwater used by some West Valley utilities near the base. A reverse osmosis filter addresses all three concerns.
Why is Phoenix water so hard? Phoenix water is hard because its sources (the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers plus local groundwater) carry high mineral loads, picking up calcium and magnesium from the rock and soil they flow through. The City of Phoenix's 2025 water quality report lists hardness of 172-302 ppm, depending on which treatment plant serves your area. The USGS classifies water above 180 mg/L as very hard.
Does a Brita filter help with Phoenix water? A standard Brita filter reduces chlorine taste and odor but is not certified for lead; the Brita Elite filter is certified for lead. Neither removes hardness minerals or arsenic, and neither currently carries a PFAS certification. You'll still get spots on dishes and scale buildup. For Phoenix water, a reverse osmosis system is more effective. A ZeroWater pitcher removes dissolved solids, but at Phoenix's dissolved-solids levels (464-716 ppm) ZeroWater's own chart predicts 8 gallons or less per filter. Brita is the minimum, not the solution.
Does Phoenix water have PFAS? At low levels. In EPA's UCMR5 testing, the City of Phoenix detected two short-chain PFAS, PFBA (5-6 ppt) and PFBS (7-16 ppt), and no PFOA or PFOS. Luke Air Force Base in Glendale is a known PFAS source: Air Force investigations found PFOA and PFOS above the former 70 ppt health advisory on the base, and in 2021 the Air Force notified Valley Utilities Water Co. that its nearby supply wells exceeded that level, leading to bottled water and new treatment. West Valley residents near the base are closest to that contamination. Check your zip code for specific results.
Is there arsenic in Phoenix water? Yes, at low levels. Arsenic in Arizona groundwater is naturally occurring; the USGS links high levels to basin sediments derived from volcanic rock, and Arizona's health department says arsenic is present in almost all groundwater supplies in the state. Phoenix's 2025 water quality report lists arsenic from non-detect to 8.5 ppb, with a highest running annual average of 7 ppb, under the federal 10 ppb limit. The city says it installs treatment or removes wells from service when a contaminant approaches its limit. An RO filter removes arsenic effectively.