Is Surprise, AZ tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for EPCOR – Agua Fria.

9 public water systems serve parts of Surprise. The largest, EPCOR – Agua Fria, serves 128,040 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

EPCOR – Agua Fria

128,040 people · Surface water · EPA ID AZ0407695

Buys treated water from Arizona Water Company – White Tanks, City of Surprise – Mountain Vista.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 2

Full EPCOR – Agua Fria results

Across Arizona, 21 of 159 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 10 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Arizona results.

Surprise homes and lead pipes

of homes built before 1980 (Arizona 29%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Arizona 3%)

21%

of households rent (Arizona 33%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Surprise city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Surprise
EPCOR – Agua Fria 128,040 people	85374, 85378, 85379, 85388
Desert Oasis Water System 23,963 people	85387

Other water systems serving Surprise

City of Surprise – Mountain Vista
40,007 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Lithium above screening level
Desert Oasis Water System
23,963 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Lithium above screening level
Beardsley Water Company 1
10,881 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Lithium above screening level
Surprise, City of Buena Vista Water System
870 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Peak View Ranch Water System
508 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Saguaro View Mgmt Company
400 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

2 more systems

White Tank Well Inc
87 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Two Tanks Community Well
76 people · Groundwater · Arizona · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 3 health-based violations since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
El Mirage 9 mi City of El Mirage	City of El Mirage	None above limits	0 ppb
Peoria 11 mi City of Peoria	City of Peoria	None above limits	0 ppb
Glendale 18 mi City of Glendale	City of Glendale	None above limits	2.11 ppb
Buckeye 20 mi City of Buckeye – Valencia Town Division	City of Buckeye – Valencia Town Division	None above limits	0 ppb
Phoenix 22 mi City of Phoenix	City of Phoenix	None above limits	2.74 ppb
Avondale 26 mi City of Avondale	City of Avondale	Above limit	0 ppb

Questions

Is Surprise tap water safe to drink?

EPCOR – Agua Fria had 2 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Surprise, AZ?

9 public water systems serve parts of Surprise. The largest is EPCOR – Agua Fria (128,040 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Surprise tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. EPCOR – Agua Fria had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Surprise homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 3% of Surprise homes as built before 1980 (Arizona: 29%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. EPCOR – Agua Fria's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.