Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
City of Phoenix Water Services Department
City of Phoenix Water Services Department delivers tap water graded C (73/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,660,000 residents in Phoenix, Arizona using surface water from the Colorado River and Salt River systems. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (602) 262-6251.
Is Phoenix tap water safe to drink?
City of Phoenix Water Services Department delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (73/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 1,660,000 residents in Phoenix and 2 other communities, drawing from surface water (Colorado River and Salt River systems) and disinfecting with chloramine.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Arsenic, Arsenic, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Uranium, Uranium, Uranium. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for City of Phoenix Water Services Department.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.84 ppb, 710x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.5 ppb.
Contact City of Phoenix Water Services Department
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Phoenix
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Reverse osmosis certified for chromium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Chromium-6 needs reverse osmosis for reliable reduction. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 73/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.84 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 710× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.69 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2022 | 672× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.4 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2024 | 600× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
34.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 57× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 51× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 45× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.593 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 30× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.5 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 25× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.352 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 18× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
5.22 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 2023 | 12× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
4.1 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 2024 | 9.5× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.7 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 2022 | 8.6× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.5 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 25× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.4 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 600× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
34.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 57× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
4.1 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 9.5× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.593 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 30× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.84 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 710× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 51× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
5.22 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 12× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.352 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 18× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.69 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 672× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 45× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.7 ppb | 0.43 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | 8.6× over |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database, and City of Phoenix Water Services Department's Consumer Confidence Report.
City of Phoenix Water Services Department service area
This water system serves 3 communities in Maricopa County, Arizona. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Phoenix water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.