Surprise Water Quality

16 EPA violations on record (most recent 2025). Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that dissolves into groundwater from rock and is also released by mining and industry. Long-term exposure is associated with several cancers and with skin, cardiovascular, and developmental harm. It is common in parts of the Southwest.

2 EPA violations on record (most recent 2024). Nitrate enters water mainly from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and animal waste. High levels can interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, a special danger for infants. Long-term low-level exposure has also been linked to elevated cancer risk in some studies.

1 EPA violation on record (most recent 2021). Atrazine is one of the most widely used weed killers and reaches water through agricultural runoff. It is an endocrine disruptor associated with reproductive and developmental effects, and concentrations tend to spike seasonally after application. It is most common in farming regions.

1 EPA violation on record (most recent 2021). PFOA is a long-lived "forever chemical" once used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products. It builds up in the body over time and is associated with certain cancers, immune effects, and developmental harm. EPA finalized a strict drinking-water limit for it in 2024.

1 EPA violation on record (most recent 2021). PFOS is another "forever chemical" from older firefighting foams and consumer coatings. Like PFOA it accumulates in the body and is linked to immune, thyroid, liver, and developmental effects. EPA set an enforceable limit for it in 2024.

Surprise's water is very hard. Hardness isn't a health risk, but it drives scale on fixtures and water heaters, shortens appliance life, and leaves skin and hair dry.