Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
TEMPE CITY OF
TEMPE CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 165,000 residents in TEMPE, Arizona using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 480-350-8255.
Is TEMPE tap water safe to drink?
TEMPE CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 165,000 residents in TEMPE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Uranium, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for TEMPE CITY OF (system ID AZ0407100) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for TEMPE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TEMPE CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 5.78 ppt, 5775x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.96 ppb, 740x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 29.4 ppb, 491x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact TEMPE CITY OF
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 TEMPE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 53/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
6.93 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
5.78 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 5775× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.96 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 740× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
29.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 491× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 252× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.33 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 116× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
10.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 106× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.67 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 41× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.61 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 33× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
4.12 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 29× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.42 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.6× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.125 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
114.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.5 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.107 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
4.45 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
78.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00667 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0402 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.95 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.09 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.555 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
7.15 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.17 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.58 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00292 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.738 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.613 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.768 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.202 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
4.28 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.301 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.108 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
142.5 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.
TEMPE CITY OF 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 TEMPE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.