Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
EPCOR - AGUA FRIA
EPCOR - AGUA FRIA delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 127,718 residents in SURPRISE, Arizona using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 623-445-2431.
Is SURPRISE tap water safe to drink?
EPCOR - AGUA FRIA delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 127,718 residents in SURPRISE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 8 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). 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.
Quick actions for SURPRISE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for EPCOR - AGUA FRIA.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 3.71 ppb, 927x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 10.1 ppb, 503x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 19.0 ppb, 316x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact EPCOR - AGUA FRIA
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for SURPRISE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 62/100 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 |
3.71 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 927× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
10.1 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 503× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
19.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 316× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 250× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 110× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.927 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 6.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.93 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 6.6× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.06 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0482 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
135.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
8.25 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cadmium Heavy metal |
0.0111 ppb | 0.04 | 5.0 | 5 | 3 | 0.04 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.49 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
53.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.54 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.211 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0751 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.853 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
19.2 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.671 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.158 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
65.9 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.00648 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
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.
EPCOR - AGUA FRIA service area
This water system serves 1 community in Maricopa County, Arizona. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SURPRISE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.