What was found in Scottsdale's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 5725 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 5105 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 500 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1600 µg/L — GW -BWC, INC.- NSWC · 319 people · 2012 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 172.75 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 486 µg/L — GW -BWC, INC.- NSWC · 319 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 132.65 µg/L 6.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 190 µg/L — Salt River Lehi · 652 people · 2013 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 90.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 70.425 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 32.71 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18.46 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.8 µg/L — GW -BWC, INC.- NSWC · 319 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.965 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 7.16 µg/L — GW -BWC, INC.- NSWC · 319 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.8 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.7 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.2 µg/L — Salt River North Mesa · 100 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4.675 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2017 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.95 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2.58 pCi/L 17% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.9880 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.7000 pCi/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.5500 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylene Dibromide | 0.0860 µg/L 172% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 0.0500 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0050 mg/L — Salt River North Mesa · 100 people · 2025 | 4/4 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0032 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTTSDALE CITY OF · 241,361 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Scottsdale
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SCOTTSDALE CITY OF | 241,361 |
| Salt River Lehi | 652 |
| GW -BWC, INC.- NSWC | 319 |
| Salt River North Mesa | 100 |
Frequently asked questions about Scottsdale tap water
Is Scottsdale tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Scottsdale. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Scottsdale?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Scottsdale, Arizona to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Scottsdale's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Scottsdale include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.