Home › Scottsdale › Water quality report
Get free quotes in Scottsdale
Which report this is
This page summarizes the City of Scottsdale's 2026 Water Quality Report, which reports testing done in 2025. It's the newest report Scottsdale has published.1 It covers City of Scottsdale water customers only. Some Scottsdale ZIP codes are partly served by other providers, so check the name on your water bill.
Scottsdale's 2025 water portfolio was about 71% Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project, 13% Salt and Verde River water from the Salt River Project (treated at the Chaparral plant), 8% recycled water and 8% groundwater.1
Key numbers from the 2026 report
| What | Result in the 2026 report (2025 data) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 13–15 gpg (230–260 mg/L) south of Indian School Rd; 13–17 gpg (215–285 mg/L) Indian School to Chaparral; 13–17 gpg (230–290 mg/L) north of Chaparral | Approximate levels by zone. No federal limit.1 |
| Total dissolved solids (TDS) | 325–710 ppm | No average published. EPA's non-enforceable guideline is 500 mg/L.1,3 |
| Disinfectant residual | Chlorine: 0–1.4 ppm; average 0.64 ppm | Limit (MRDL) is 4 ppm. The report lists no chloramine.1 |
| Sodium | 48–140 ppm | No federal limit.1 |
| pH | 6.7–8.2 | EPA guideline 6.5–8.5.1,3 |
| Calcium | 61.9–81.3 ppm | 1 |
| Magnesium | 27–42 ppm | 1 |
| Alkalinity | 113–135 ppm | 1 |
| Sulfate | ND–225 ppm | EPA guideline 250 mg/L.1,3 |
| Chloride | ND–105 ppm | EPA guideline 250 mg/L.1,3 |
| Arsenic | 1.2–6.3 ppb; system average 3.9; highest running annual average 5.8 | Limit 10 ppb.1 |
| Nitrate | ND–6.4 ppm; average 1.9; highest running annual average 4.0 | Limit 10 ppm.1 |
| Fluoride | ND–0.5 ppm; average 0.3 | Limit 4 ppm. Naturally occurring.1,2 |
| Chromium | ND–25.7 ppb; average 4.1 | Limit 100 ppb.1 |
| Uranium | ND–14 ppb; average 4.2 | Limit 30 ppb. Includes 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025 sampling.1 |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Highest locational running annual average 52.7 ppb (26.7–61.3) | Disinfection byproduct. Limit 80 ppb.1 |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | Highest locational running annual average 9.1 ppb (2.5–9.5) | Disinfection byproduct. Limit 60 ppb.1 |
| Lead (2023 sampling) | 90th percentile 2.0 ppb; 1 of 50 homes above the action level | Action level 15 ppb.1 |
| Copper (2023 sampling) | 90th percentile 170 ppb; 0 of 50 homes above the action level | Action level 1,300 ppb.1 |
ppm = parts per million (mg/L). ppb = parts per billion. ND = not detected. Hardness is from the report's hardness table. TDS, sodium, pH, calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, sulfate and chloride are from its unregulated contaminants table.1
What isn't published
The report gives ranges, not averages, for TDS, sodium and the other minerals. Hardness is given by zone, with no figure by ZIP code or street.1 Scottsdale's drinking water web page shows a higher hardness table (22–25 gpg south of Indian School, 20–22 gpg Indian School to Chaparral, 16–18 gpg north of Chaparral) and doesn't say what year it's from.2 We use the 2026 report. For a reading at your tap, test it or ask a dealer to.
Notices in the report
The report includes a Tier 3 public notice: Scottsdale didn't complete all required monitoring for the herbicide 2,4-D from July 1 to September 30, 2025. It says a sample taken the next quarter showed no detection.1
What this means for home treatment
- Scale: every zone in the report is 13 gpg or more, which is hard water. See Scottsdale softener cost and hard water in Scottsdale.
- TDS and taste: TDS reduction is a required claim for RO systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58. Check a unit's listing for anything else it's certified to reduce.4
- Chlorine taste: carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 42 target chlorine taste and odor.5
- Sodium: tap water already carries 48–140 ppm. A salt-based softener adds more, so ask about RO for drinking water if that matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Scottsdale water?
Scottsdale's 2026 Water Quality Report, which covers 2025 testing, lists approximate hardness of 13 to 15 grains per gallon (230 to 260 mg/L) south of Indian School Road, 13 to 17 gpg (215 to 285 mg/L) from Indian School Road to Chaparral Road, and 13 to 17 gpg (230 to 290 mg/L) north of Chaparral Road.
Why does Scottsdale's website show higher hardness numbers?
The city's Your Drinking Water web page has a table of 16 to 25 grains per gallon by zone and doesn't say what year it's from. The 2026 Water Quality Report gives 13 to 17 gpg. We use the report. If you're setting a softener, test your own tap.
What is the TDS of Scottsdale tap water?
Scottsdale's 2026 report lists total dissolved solids of 325 to 710 ppm. It doesn't publish an average. EPA's non-enforceable secondary guideline is 500 mg/L.
Does Scottsdale use chlorine or chloramine?
The 2026 report lists chlorine at 0 to 1.4 ppm with an average of 0.64 ppm, against a limit of 4 ppm. It doesn't list chloramine.
How much sodium is in Scottsdale water?
Scottsdale's 2026 report lists sodium at 48 to 140 ppm.
Does Scottsdale add fluoride?
No. Scottsdale's drinking water page says the city doesn't add fluoride. The 2026 report lists naturally occurring fluoride from not detected up to 0.5 ppm, with a 0.3 ppm average.
More water quality reports: Phoenix · Mesa · Chandler · Gilbert · Tucson · Scottsdale water treatment pros
Sources
- City of Scottsdale 2026 Water Quality Report (2025 data), PDF
- City of Scottsdale: Your Drinking Water (web page)
- 40 CFR 143.3: secondary maximum contaminant levels
- NSF: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis systems
- NSF: NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 filtration standards
Ready to compare? Get up to 3 free quotes from local Scottsdale water treatment pros.
Get free quotes