Problems We Found In Scottsdale's Drinking Water

Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst

For Hydroviv’s assessment of Scottsdale’s tap water quality, we aggregated water quality test data from Scottsdale Water, the water utility provider for Scottsdale, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that Hydroviv builds for people in Scottsdale are optimized with this research in mind.

Source Of Scottsdale Drinking Water

Scottsdale’s main surface water supply is from the Colorado River. This water is transported through the Central Arizona Project canal to the Scottsdale CAP Water Treatment Plant. We also receive surface water from the Salt River Project, which comes from the Verde and Salt rivers. Water is transported by SRP to the Chaparral Water Treatment Plant. In addition to these two main surface water sources, Scottsdale drinking water may also come from aquifers deep below ground. The water is pumped from the ground through one of the city’s 23 active wells and then disinfected prior to entering Scottsdale's Tap water distribution system.

Arsenic In Scottsdale 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. Scottsdale's water quality is in compliance with EPA water quality standards but it’s important to mention 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 arsenic levels up to 6.7 parts per billion. Unfortunately the last time that arsenic testing was done in Scottsdale was 2014-2015 (Arsenic is very loosely regulated). We recommend that anyone with more than 1 part per billion take steps to remove arsenic from their water, especially if there are children in the home.

Lead In Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale's water quality samples analyzed for lead in Scottsdale tested 1.6 per billion and are currently in compliance with very lenient federal regulations but even the 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.

Extremely High Chromium 6 Levels In Scottsdale Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not regulated by the EPA. In recent years, Scottsdale's water quality has averaged 3500 parts per trillion for Chromium 6. For perspective, these levels are an incredibly 175 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk. These levels are among the highest chromium 6 concentrations we see in major US cities, and we highly recommend that all Scottsdale residents take steps to remove the toxic metal from their drinking water.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Scottsdale 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's website discloses that exposure to high levels of disinfection byproducts are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Still Have Questions About Scottsdale Tap Water?

Hydrovivis a water filtration company based in DC 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 are then used to build water filters that are built specifically for Scottsdale, but our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants.

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Scottsdale 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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