Public Works & Utilities
Water Quality
Mail Stop 803
P.O. Box 4008
Chandler, AZ 85244-4008

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2023 DRINKING WATER QUALITY
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
City of Chandler

vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general
population.
Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer
undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone
organ transplants, people with HIV-AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at
risk from infections. These people should seek advice about
drinking water from their health care providers.
For more information about contaminants and potential health
effects, or to receive a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection
by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants visit the
EPA Safe Drinking Water website at epa.gov/sdwa.
The sources of drinking water include rivers, lakes, streams,
ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the
surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally
occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive material,
and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of
animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial Contaminants: Such as viruses and bacteria that
may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic Contaminants: Such as salts and metals that can
be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming.
• Pesticides and Herbicides: Such as agriculture, urban storm
water runoff, and residential uses that may come from a variety of sources.
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Such as synthetic and
volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial
processes and petroleum production, and may come from
gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants: That can be naturally occurring
or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems. The United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water providing the same level of protection for public health.

The City of Chandler Public Works & Utilities Department is
committed to providing a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water for our valued customers. Due to our strong commitment, the City of Chandler employs a team of chemists, technicians, and specialists to collect and perform more tests on
the water served than is required by law. This report provides
valuable material concerning your drinking water including
information about its sources, results from water quality testing, and how to interpret the data provided.

About your Water Supply

The drinking water supplied by the City of Chandler to its customers comes from three sources:
• The Pecos Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) treats and distributes water from the Salt River, Verde River, Central Arizona
Project (Colorado River), and Salt River Project (SRP) wells
whose water is transported to Chandler via the Consolidated
Canal.
• 30 plus wells supply groundwater from aquifers underlying
Chandler. Groundwater is disinfected with chlorine prior to
being introduced into the City’s distribution system.
• The City of Chandler and the Town of Gilbert jointly own
the Santan Vista Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP) located in
the Town of Gilbert. This facility currently has the capability to treat and distribute up to 24 million gallons per day
of Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project to
each city. We have included compliance information supplied by the SVWTP. The Town of Gilbert’s annual Water
Quality Report can also be accessed at gilbertaz.gov/departments/public-works/water/reports.

City of Chandler Water Supply
Statistics

• The PWTP produced 42% of the city’s total
drinking water.
• Groundwater wells produced 33%
of the city’s total drinking water.
42% Pecos WTP
• The SVWTP supplied 25% of the
33% Wells
25% Santan WTP
city’s total drinking water.

Drinking Water and your Health

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be
expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Some people may be more
Lead and Copper Study 2022:
Lead & Copper

MCL
Violation
Y or N

Number of
90th Percentile Samples
Exceeds AL

AL

ALG

Sample Month
& Year

Likely Source of Contamination

Copper (ppm)

N

0.11

0

1.3

1.3

7/2022

Lead (ppb)

N

3.4

0

15

0

8/2022

Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits
Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits

Lead and Copper Testing
Federal regulations require all cities to test for lead and copper
at selected customer’s taps at least once every three years. The
City of Chandler conducted lead and copper tap sampling in
the summer of 2022, with the concentrations of lead and copper well below regulatory limits.
Lead, in drinking water, is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. If
present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. The

City of Chandler is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in
household plumbing components. When your water has been
sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for
lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes
before using water for drinking or cooking. Information on lead
in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to
minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Protecting Chandler’s Water Supply

Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP)
The Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
completed a source water
assessment for drinking
water wells and surface
water sources for Chandler’s
public water system in 2005.
The assessment reviewed
adjacent land uses that may
pose a potential risk to water
sources. These risks include, but are not limited to, gas stations,
landfills, dry cleaners, agriculture fields, wastewater treatment
plants, and mining activities. Once ADEQ identified the adjacent
land uses, they were ranked on their potential to affect the
water source.
All surface water sources are considered high risk due to
their exposure to open air. The overall risk posed to surface
water is addressed by EPA through its increased monitoring
requirements for surface water sources.
Two of Chandler’s drinking water wells were considered high
risk based on adjacent land use criteria. The Chandler public
water system conducts regular monitoring of drinking water
entering the distribution system from all wells to ensure land
uses have not impacted the source water.
Based on the information
currently available on the
hydrogeological settings and
the adjacent land uses that are
in the specified proximity of the
drinking water source(s) of this
public water system, ADEQ has
given a high-risk designation
for the degree to which this
public water system drinking water source(s) are protected.
A designation of high risk indicates there may be additional
source water protection measures which can be implemented
on the local level. This does not imply that the source water
is contaminated, nor does it mean that contamination is
imminent. Rather, it simply states that land use activities or
hydrogeological conditions exist that make the source water
susceptible to possible future contamination.
Further source water assessment documentation can be
obtained by contacting ADEQ at 602-771-4298 or visiting their
website at azdeq.gov/source-water-protection.
Backflow Prevention
The City of Chandler prevents
contamination of the public
water supply by requiring
the installation, maintenance,
and inspection of thousands
of backflow devices throughout the city. These devices
ensure hazards originating
on customer’s property and
from temporary connections
do not impair or alter the
water in the city’s distribution
system. Backflow prevention
devices range from vacuum
breakers on household hose
bibs to large commercial
reduced-pressure principal
devices.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Tips
“Be the solution to storm water pollution” – common storm water pollutants include sediment, motor oil and
other vehicle fluids, pet waste, yard
debris, metals, pesticides, fertilizers,
and herbicides, to name a few. For
more information on stormwater pollution prevention, please go to chandleraz.gov and search “stormwater”.
Guidelines
for
Everyday
Pollution
Prevention – “Only Rain In the Storm Drain”
• Sweep yard debris and properly dispose of in the trash,
rather than blowing or hosing into the street.
• Contain pool or spa water on private property or dispose of it in the sanitary sewer
cleanout associated with your
home. Draining pool water into
the street or other city right-ofway is prohibited by City Code.
For more information call the
city’s Environmental Management
Department at 480-782-3503
or search “pool drainage” at
chandleraz.gov.
• Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and as directed by the
manufacturer.
• Pick up after your pet and properly dispose of the waste in
the trash.
• Wash your car on a lawn or other unpaved surface or use a
commercial car wash.
• Always use a nozzle on your garden hose around the home.
Do not let the water free flow into the street.
• Maintain vehicles to be free of leaks and do not park leaking
vehicles on the street.
• Do not over-water your lawn.
• Report illegal dumping into streets and storm drains by calling the city’s Environmental Management Department at
480-782-3503 or at chandleraz.gov.
• Minimize your purchase and use of hazardous products.
Dispose of unused quantities properly. Please contact the
city’s Solid Waste Services at 480-782-3510 for proper disposal guidelines of hazardous waste materials such as used
motor oil and other similar fluids.

Chandler Detected Regulated Contaminants 2023
MCL
Range of All
Level
Radionuclides
Violation Highest
Samples
Detected
Y or N
(Low-High)
2.6
2.3
Running Annual
Inorganic Chemicals MCL
(RAA)
Violation Average
(IOC)
OR
Highest
Level
Y or N
Detected

< 1.0 – 2.6
1.7 – 2.3

Sample
MCL MCLG Month & Likely Source of Contamination
Year
15
0
1/2023
Erosion of natural deposits
30
0
1/2023
Erosion of natural deposits

Range of All
Samples
(Low-High)

Sample
MCL MCLG Month & Likely Source of Contamination
Year

Arsenic1 (ppb)

N

8.50

<1.0 – 8.50

10

0

1/2023

Barium (ppm)

N

0.66

0.016 – 0.66

2

2

1/2023

Chromium (ppb)

N

23

< 1.0 – 23

100

100

1/2023

Fluoride (ppm)

N

1.1

<0.4 - 1.1

4

4

8/2023

Nitrate2 (ppm)

N

6.8

0.32– 6.8

10

10

1/2023

Nitrite (ppm)

N

0.28

<0.05 – 0.28

1

1

11/2023

Selenium (ppb)

N

1.9

<0.5 – 1.9

50

50

1/2023

Sodium (ppm)

N

260

89 – 260

N/A

N/A

1/2023

Thallium (ppb)

N

0.14

<0.1 – 0.14

2

0.5

8/2023

Alpha Emitters (pCi/L) N
Uranium (ug/L)
N

Erosion of natural deposits, runoff from orchards, runoff from
glass and electronics production wastes
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries;
Erosion of natural deposits
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong
teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage;
erosion of natural deposits
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage;
erosion of natural deposits
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural
deposits; discharge from mines
Erosion of natural deposits
Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics,
glass, and drug factories

1 Arsenic is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentration and is linked to other health effects, such as skin damage and circulatory problems. If arsenic is less than or
equal to the MCL, your drinking water meets EPA’s standards. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from
drinking water and continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic.
2 Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause “blue baby syndrome.” Nitrate levels
may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, and detected nitrate levels are above 5 ppm, you should ask advice from
your health care provider.

Surface Water Monitoring 2023:
Surface Water Treatment Rule

TT
Violation Y or N

Lowest RAA

RAA Range TT
(Low-High)
1.18 – 2.40 >1
- RAA

Total Organic Carbon1 Removal Ratio

N

1.18

Turbidity2 (NTU)

N

Highest Level Detected
0.20
100%

>95%

Sample Month Likely Source of
& Year
Contamination
Naturally
present in the envi3/2023
ronment
7/2023

Soil runoff

1 Total organic carbon (TOC) has no health effects. However, total organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of disinfection byproducts. These byproducts include trihalomethanes

(THM) and haloacetic acids (HAA). Drinking water containing these byproducts in excess of the MCL may lead to adverse health effects, liver, or kidney problems, or nervous system effects,
and may lead to an increased risk of getting cancer.
2 Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water and is an indication of the effectiveness of our filtration system. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the quality of water. High turbidity
can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants. Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate
the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Distribution System Detections 2023:
Microbiological
(RTCR)
E. Coli
Fecal Indicator
(coliphage, enterococci and/or E. coli)
Disinfectants
Chlorine (ppm)
Disinfection
By-Products

TT
of Positive
Violation Number
Samples
Y or N
N
0

Positive
Sample(s)
MCL
Month & Year
NA
0

N

5 of 1866 or 0.27%

11/2023
0.11%

MCL
Annual Average
Violation Running
(RAA)
Y or N
N
1.09
MCL
Running Annual Average
Violation (RAA) OR Highest Level
Y or N
Detected

Range of All
Samples
(Low-High)
<0.02 – 2.20
Range of All
Samples
(Low-High)

Haloacetic Acids
N
(HAA5)1 (ppb)
Total Trihalomethanes N
(TTHM)2 (ppb)

MCLG

Likely Source of Contamination

0

Human and animal fecal waste

5%

0

Human and animal fecal waste

MRDL

MRDLG

4

0

MCL

MCLG

Sample
Month &
Year
6/2023
Sample
Month &
Year

Likely Source of Contamination
Water additive used to control microbes
Likely Source of Contamination

14.0

<2.0 - 25

60

N/A

4/2023

Byproduct of drinking water disinfection

69.5

3.2 - 97

80

N/A

4/2023

Byproduct of drinking water disinfection

1Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
2Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central

nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Taste, Odor and Hardness

The EPA’s National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations are
non-enforceable guidelines on contaminants that may cause
cosmetic or aesthetic effects in drinking water. These effects
include flavor, color, odor, and hardness, all of which are harmless, but some consumers may find disagreeable. The table
below shows data on substances and characteristics that are
frequently asked about by Chandler residents.
Substance
Guideline
Alkalinity (ppm)
NA
Iron (ppm)
0.3 mg/L
pH
6.5 – 8.5
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm)
500 mg/L
Total Hardness (ppm; grains/gallon) NA

Range of Results (low – high)
70.0 – 188.0
<0.10 – 0.21
7.3 – 8.3
399 - 1550
163 – 340 mg/L / 9.5 –19.9 gpg

Who do I contact with questions about
Chandler’s Drinking Water?

If you have any questions about your tap water or the information in this report, please call the city’s Water Quality
Department at 480-782-3654 during normal business hours
(8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). You can also
visit our website at chandleraz.gov/residents/water/waterquality.
Citizens who wish to address the City Council about water
issues may do so at regularly scheduled City Council meetings
normally held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. The
meetings are held at Chandler City Hall Council Chambers,
88 E. Chicago Street. For information about specific meeting times and agenda items, please contact the City Clerk’s
office at 480-782-2181, or visit chandleraz.gov/government/
departments/city-clerks-office/city-council-meetings.

Seasonal Changes in Flavor
The flavor of Chandler’s drinking water may change at certain
times of the year, depending on the source. Chandler works
with SRP to minimize algae in the canal system and to provide
treatment at the SWTP to reduce off-flavors and odors.
Arizona State University and the City of Chandler have
partnered to routinely monitor for taste and odor precursors
in the Consolidated Canal. This allows the treatment plant to
have more precise control over taste and odor events and to
better use resources and manage cost.

Santan Vista System Compliance Data 2023 (Operated by the Town of Gilbert):
Inorganic Chemicals
(IOC)

MCL
Violation
Y or N

Range of All
Highest Level Detected Samples
(Low-High)

MCL

MCLG

Nitrate (ppm)

N

<0.25

10

10

MCL
Violation
Y or N
N
TT
Violation
Y or N

Range of All
Highest Level Detected Samples
(Low-High)
7.0
1.0 – 7.0
Range of All
Average
Samples
(Low-High)

MCL

MCLG

10

N/A

TT

MCLG

N

20.68

Disinfection By-Products
Bromate (ppb)
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Total Organic Carbon Removal
Ratio % Removal

<0.25

19.10 – 23.00 15%
25%

Definitions:
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant, which if
exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a
contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as
close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment
technology and taking cost into consideration. MCLs are
enforceable standards.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a
contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known
or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety
and are non-enforceable public health goals.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The level of
disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be
exceeded at the consumer’s tap.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level
of disinfectant added for treatment at which no known or
anticipated adverse effect on health of persons would occur.

N/A

Sample
Month & Likely Source of Contamination
Year
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic
2/2023
tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Sample
Month & Likely Source of Contamination
Year
8/2023
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Sample
Month & Likely Source of Contamination
Year
5/2023

Naturally Present in the Environment

Minimum Reporting Limit (MRL): The smallest measured
concentration of a substance that can be reliably measured
by a given analytical method.
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU): A measure of water
clarity.
Non-Applicable (N/A): Sampling was not completed by
regulation or was not required.
ppm: Parts per million or Milligrams per liter (mg/L). One ppm
is equivalent to one gallon in one million gallons.
ppb: Parts per billion or Micrograms per liter (µg/L). One ppb
is equivalent to one gallon in one billion gallons.
ppt: Parts per trillion or Nanograms per liter (ng/L). One ppt
is equivalent to one gallon in one trillion gallons.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): Measure of the radioactivity in
water.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to
reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Unregulated Contaminants
Your drinking water was sampled for the presence and
concentration of 29 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, some known by the acronyms PFAS, PFOA, PFNA,
PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX, a group of contaminants in the
final stages of becoming regulated by the EPA. PFAS are
man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and
oil. They have been used since the 1940s to manufacture
various consumer products, including fire-fighting foam and
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances

Highest Range
Level
of All
Detected Samples

PFOA (in parts per trillion) <4.0
PFOS (in parts per trillion) <4.0
PFNA (in parts per trillion) <4.0
PFHxS (in parts per trillion) <3.0
PFBS (in parts per trillion) 12
GenX (in parts per trillion) <5.0
Calculated Hazard Index (HI) 0.006

Proposed
MCL

stain resistant, water-resistant, and nonstick items. Many
PFAS do not break down easily and can build up in people,
animals, and the environment over time. Scientific studies
have shown that exposure to certain PFAS can be harmful
to people and animals, depending on the level and duration
of exposure.
To learn more about this group of chemicals, we encourage
you to read the ADEQ-provided “PFAS 101 Fact Sheet” and to
visit the ADEQ website at azdeq.gov/pfas-resources.

Maximum Maximum
Contaminant Contaminant
Level Goal Level
(MCLG) ** (MCL)**
0
4.0
0
4.0
10
10
10
10

<4.0 - <4.0 4.0 ppt
<4.0 - <4.0 4.0 ppt
<4.0 - <4.0 N/A*
<3.0 - <3.0 N/A*
<3.0 – 12.0 N/A*
<5.0 - <5.0 N/A*
10
1 (no units) 1

10
1

* EPA is proposing a Hazard Index MCL to limit any mixture containing one
or more of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and/or GenX Chemicals. The Hazard Index
considers the different toxicities of PFNA, GenX Chemicals, PFHxS, and
PFBS. For these PFAS, water systems would use a hazard index calculation
to determine if the combined levels of these PFAS in the drinking water at
that system pose a potential risk and require action (Source: EPA Fact Sheet:
Understanding the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Proposal Hazard
Index).
** On April 10, 2024 EPA issued the final rule setting the MCLG and MCL
levels as listed in the table left. The rule will go into effect on June 25, 2024,
with initial monitoring due by June of 2027.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
Twenty-nine Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
(In parts per trillion)

of
Detected Average
Results
(Y/N)
(ppt)
11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) N
0
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
N
0
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
N
0
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
N
0
4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
N
0
9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
N
0
hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX)
N
0
nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
N
0
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
N
0
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
N
0
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
Y
1.19
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)
Y
0.27
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
N
0
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
N
0
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
N
0
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
N
0
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
N
0
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
Y
0.07
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
N
0
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
N
0
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
N
0
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
N
0
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
Y
0.16
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
N
0
n-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
N
0
n-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
N
0
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
N
0
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
N
0
One Metal

Detected
(Y/N)

Average
(ppb)

Range of All Minimum
Samples
Reporting Level Analytical Methods
(Low-High (ppt)
<5.0 - <5.0 5
EPA 533
<5.0 - <5.0 5
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<5.0 - <5.0 5
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<2.0-<2.0 2
EPA 533
<5.0 - <5.0 5
EPA 533
<20.0-<20.0 20
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<4.0 - <4.0 4
EPA 533
<3.0 – 12.0 3
EPA 533
<5.0-5.0
5
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<3.0 - <3.0 3
EPA 533
<3.0 - 3.5 3
EPA 533
<4.0 - <4.0 4
EPA 533
<4.0 - <4.0 4
EPA 533
<4.0 - <4.0 4
EPA 533
<4.0 - <4.0 4
EPA 533
<3.0 – 5.3 3
EPA 533
<2.0 - <2.0 2
EPA 533
<5.0 - <5.0 5
EPA 537.1
<6.0 - <6.0 6
EPA 537.1
<8.0 - <8.0 8
EPA 537.1
<7.0 - <7.0 7
EPA 537.1
Range of All MRL
Samples
Analytical Methods
(Low-High) (ppb)

Lithium (ppb)

Y

188.08

65.6 - 305

9 µg/L

EPA 200.7, SM 3120 B, ASTM D1976–20

Some average values could be less than the low range due to substituting non-detect (<) values with zero, per the
regulations governing compliance calculations.

FACT SHEET
Katie Hobbs, Governor • Karen Peters, Director
azdeq.gov

PFAS 101

Publication Number: FS-23-10

What are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS are
man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil.
They have been used since the 1940s to manufacture various
consumer products, including fire-fighting foam and stainresistant, water-resistant, and nonstick items.
Many PFAS do not break down easily and can build up in
people, animals, and the environment over time. This is why
they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.
Scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain PFAS can
be harmful to people and animals, depending on the level and
duration of exposure.

we are testing the smaller water systems even though the EPA
does not require it. Our goal is to make sure that all regulated
water systems are tested for PFAS as soon as possible.

Pending PFAS Regulation

What Happens if PFAS are Detected?

PFAS are not currently regulated nationally or in Arizona. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a
national regulation for PFAS in drinking water. The proposed
regulation includes “Maximum Contaminant Levels” for six
common PFAS, which are based on long-term, chronic exposure
to low levels. EPA expects to finalize the drinking water
regulation by 2024, and then water systems will be given three
years to address PFAS contamination.
In addition to PFAS drinking water regulations, EPA has
proposed other actions like designating some PFAS as
hazardous substances, which would allow the state and federal
government to hold polluters accountable. EPA also proposed
aquatic life standards to help protect wildlife in our streams
and rivers.

What We Are Doing to Protect Public Health:
ADEQ has conducted targeted testing since 2018
to understand the impact of PFAS in Arizona. This
testing has included drinking water, groundwater,
wastewater, and biosolids.
To prevent PFAS from entering the environment,
we launched a pilot program to help fire
departments stop using PFAS-containing aqueous
film-forming foams. We have worked with 52 fire
departments across Arizona to replace and safely
discard almost 10,000 gallons of foam to date.

Testing Arizona’s Drinking Water

EPA is requiring that public water systems serving 3,300 people
or more test their drinking water for PFAS. However, most
systems in Arizona serve fewer than 3,300 people. Therefore,

If PFAS are detected, we ask systems to follow EPA
recommendations to inform customers, examine steps to
limit exposure, and take more samples to assess the level,
scope, and source of contamination. When a system’s PFAS
concentrations exceed EPA’s proposed limits, we help the
systems perform additional testing, begin exploring potential
solutions and even apply for federal funding, if needed. We
also provide systems with a PFAS Toolkit to help them meet
the challenges. The toolkit includes information about funding,
customer communication and next steps.

Benefits of ADEQ’s Drinking Water Testing Program

ADEQ’s PFAS drinking water testing program offers several
benefits to small drinking water systems and their customers. It
provides free PFAS testing to these systems, potentially saving
them significant costs. It also offers assistance with next steps
if PFAS are detected. With many systems across the country
facing similar challenges, it is important that Arizona’s drinking
water systems begin planning to meet the new rules as soon
as possible.

Want to learn more?
Visit azdeq.gov/PFAS-Resources to:
• Contact us
• Watch our Intro to PFAS in Arizona video
• Explore other resources

You can also find our PFAS Interactive Data Map at
bit.ly/myPFASmap to see results from our testing since 2018.