Arizona Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Arizona, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Safford City Of has the highest PFAS in Arizona at 144 ppt (36x the EPA limit). Kingman Municipal Water has the highest lead at 110 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Arizona
Public water systems in Arizona with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safford City Of | Safford · 20,600 served | 144 | 2 | 36x |
| 2 | Globe City Of | Globe · 7,536 served | 113.3 | 5 | 28x |
| 3 | Arizona Water Co - Pinal Valley | Phoenix · 134,432 served | 91.1 | 6 | 23x |
| 4 | Tempe City Of | Tempe · 165,000 served | 70.5 | 9 | 18x |
| 5 | Florence Water Company | Florence · 15,900 served | 60 | 3 | 15x |
| 6 | Valley Utilities Water Company Glendale | Glendale · 5,940 served | 59 | 4 | 15x |
| 7 | Payson Town Of | Payson · 17,682 served | 54.8 | 8 | 14x |
| 8 | Liberty Water Lpsco | Litchfield Park · 55,810 served | 54.6 | 8 | 14x |
| 9 | Liberty Water Rio Rico | Sierra Vista · 17,960 served | 40.9 | 5 | 10x |
| 10 | Johnson Util - Anthem At Merrill Ranch | San Tan Valley · 10,362 served | 40 | 5 | 10x |
| 11 | Arizona Water Co - Miami Claypool | Phoenix · 8,656 served | 37 | 6 | 9x |
| 12 | Arizona Water Co - Sedona | Phoenix · 12,104 served | 30 | 8 | 8x |
Highest Lead Levels in Arizona
Community water systems in Arizona with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingman Municipal Water | Kingman · 45,000 served | 110 | 7.3x over |
| 2 | Aspc Lewis Complex Water System | Buckeye · 4,300 served | 83 | 5.5x over |
| 3 | East Slope Water Company | Glendale · 1,980 served | 50 | 3.3x over |
| 4 | Tonto Basin Water - Lr Gardens West | Payson · 1,172 served | 32 | 2.1x over |
| 5 | North Mohave Valley | Bullhead City · 5,190 served | 22 | 1.5x over |
| 6 | Black Canyon City Wid | Chino Valley · 2,437 served | 21 | 1.4x over |
| 7 | Southland Utilities - Golden Acres | Tucson · 1,614 served | 19 | 1.3x over |
| 8 | Mammoth Town Of | Mammoth · 1,181 served | 19 | 1.3x over |
| 9 | Springerville Town Of | Springerville · 1,972 served | 19 | 1.3x over |
| 10 | Beardsley Water Company 1 | Litchfield Park · 10,263 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
| 11 | Clearwater Utility Company Inc | Buckeye · 2,175 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
| 12 | Copper Mountain Ranch Cfd | Casa Grande · 1,071 served | 16.4 | 1.1x over |
Most EPA Violations in Arizona
Community water systems in Arizona with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellton Town Of | Wellton · 3,000 served | 57 |
| 2 | Thunderbird Farms Dwid | Maricopa · 2,231 served | 28 |
| 3 | Katherine Landing Dwtp | Boulder City · 1,300 served | 27 |
| 4 | Foothills Utilities Kingman East | Yuma · 2,538 served | 25 |
| 5 | City Of Yuma | Yuma · 103,264 served | 22 |
| 6 | Oak Creek Water District | Sedona · 1,507 served | 22 |
| 7 | Copper Mountain Ranch Cfd | Casa Grande · 1,071 served | 18 |
| 8 | Epcor - Moovalya Keys | El Mirage · 1,298 served | 15 |
| 9 | Cameron Trading Post | Cameron · 1,270 served | 14 |
| 10 | Springerville Town Of | Springerville · 1,972 served | 13 |
| 11 | Tombstone City Of | Tombstone · 1,545 served | 13 |
| 12 | Epcor - Lakeside | El Mirage · 1,775 served | 12 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Arizona?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Safford City Of in Safford had the highest recorded PFAS level in Arizona at 144 ppt - about 36x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Arizona water system has the highest lead levels?
Kingman Municipal Water in Kingman had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Arizona under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 110 ppb - 7.3x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Arizona water system has the most EPA violations?
Wellton Town Of in Wellton has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Arizona, with 57 violations.
Where does the Arizona water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Arizona Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Arizona water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.