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Problems We Found In Mesa's Drinking Water

Problems We Found In Mesa's Drinking Water

Kezia Snipe | Hydroviv Research Analyst

Updated May 28, 2021 to reflect current water quality data

For Hydroviv’s City of Mesa, AZ Water Report we aggregated water quality test data from Mesa Water Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and delve into upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we offer at Hydroviv are optimized with these numbers in mind.

Sources Of Mesa Drinking Water

Mesa relies on two sources for its drinking water: surface water and groundwater wells. Salt and Verde River water from the Salt River Project (SRP) supplies water delivered in the City Zone. Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) provides water delivered in the Eastern Zones. 16 deep aquifer wells supply drinking water throughout the City Zone. 14 deep aquifer wells supply drinking water throughout a wide area in Mesa’s Eastern Zones.

Arsenic In Mesa Drinking Water

Arsenic is a toxic metal that is known to cause cancer and other health issues. Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself. Mesa's water quality is in compliance with the EPA’s water quality standards but it’s important to point out that EPA’s standard balances the toxicity against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The city’s most recent tap water quality report reported an average arsenic concentration up to 7.8 parts per billion. Hydroviv recommends that anyone with more than 1 part per billion take steps to remove arsenic from their water, especially if they have children.

Lead In Mesa Drinking Water

Lead enters tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and can reach dangerous levels. Currently,10% of samples analyzed for lead in Mesa, AZ's water are 3.7 parts per billion. Though Mesa's water quality is in compliance with federal regulations, EPA and CDC both acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any taps used to serve children have lead levels no higher than 1 part per billion.

Extremely High Chromium 6 Levels In Mesa Drinking Water

Mesa's water quality has one of the highest levels of Chromium 6 in its' tap water in the entire country. Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not currently regulated by the EPA. In recent years, the city’s tap water has averaged 5600 parts per trillion for Chromium 6. For a bit of perspective, these levels are 280 times HIGHER than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Mesa Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA has admitted that they are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Still Have Questions About Mesa Drinking Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Mesa, AZ's water, but all of our our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants (including lead).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Mesa tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

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