Phoenix Water Quality Analysis
- 01 | Who Regulates Phoenix Drinking Water?
- 02 | Phoenix Annual Water Quality Report
- 03 | Environmental Working Group Water Quality Report
- 04 | Contaminants Threatening Phoenix Water Quality
- 05 | Taste and Odor of Phoenix Water
- 06 | Where Does Phoenix Get Its Water?
- 07 | Treating Phoenix Drinking Water
- 08 | Testing and Monitoring Phoenix Water Quality
- 09 | Should Phoenix Residents Use In-home Water Filters?
Will Phoenix’s drinking water rise from the ashes?
Or will it fail with pollution?
Although Phoenix water tests positive for fewer overall contaminants, they make up for it by testing really high for a select few.
Keep reading to find out which pollutants are the biggest threats to Phoenix water quality…
The City of Phoenix Water Services Department is in charge of providing clean drinking water to the city’s 1.7 million residents.
The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for maximum allowable contaminants levels of over 100 different substances.
At the state level, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality enforces the federal regulations and makes sure that the City of Phoenix is in compliance.
Every year, Phoenix publishes its annual water quality report to update residents on the current state of their drinking water.
In their most recent report, the City of Phoenix Water Services Department met or exceeded all federal and state drinking water standards.
With that said, not everyone agrees that the government’s drinking water standards are actually safe…
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit watchdog group that gathers water quality data on cities across the country.
The EWG’s health standards are significantly more strict than those set by the federal government, and are based on the most current medical studies.
In their most recent report on Phoenix water quality, the EWG gathered data from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database.
Out of the 20 total contaminants found, eight of them exceeded the EWG health guidelines by the following amounts:
- Arsenic: 1,266x
- Chlorite: 2.6x
- Chromium (hexavalent): 20x
- Haloacetic acids: 121x
- Haloacetic acids: 316x
- Nitrate: 16x
- Radium: 2.2x
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 276x
Other contaminants detected at lower levels include:
- Barium
- Bromate
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Fluoride
- Germanium
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Vanadium
- Xylenes (total)
Next, let’s take a closer look at the biggest threats to Phoenix water quality…
According to the City of Phoenix Water Services Department, contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from septic systems, livestock operations, wildlife, and wastewater treatment plants
- Inorganic contaminants like naturally occurring salts and metals, as well as from oil and gas production, mining and farming
- Pesticides and herbicides from a variety of sources, such as urban stormwater runoff, agriculture, and residential uses
- Organic chemical contaminants, including volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that are byproducts from petroleum production and other industrial processes
- Radioactive contaminants, both naturally occurring and from mining activities and oil and gas production
Here are the specific contaminants that Phoenix drinking water tested the highest for:
Without meaning to, the City of Phoenix is trying to beat the national record for highest Arsenic levels.
In the latest EWG report, Phoenix tested at concentrations 1,266x above the organization’s recommended levels!
Even the City of Phoenix Water Services Department admits…
“While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.”
Arsenic comes from erosion of natural deposits in the rocks and soil, as well as runoff from glass and electronics production.
According to the World Health Organization, long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water can lead to health effects like:
- Skin lesions
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Early childhood exposure and exposure during pregnancy has also been linked to negative impacts on cognitive developments.
Phoenix also posted big numbers for levels of chromium-6 in their water.
Chromium is a heavy metal, and chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) is its most toxic form.
In the latest EWG report, the City of Phoenix tested at concentrations 20x the organization’s recommended health guidelines.
Hexavalent chromium differs from arsenic in that it turns the water yellow at high concentrations.
However, at low concentrations there is no obvious way to notice that it’s in your water.
Studies indicate that consuming chromium-6 in drinking water may increase the risk of stomach cancers.
Disinfection byproducts, or DBPs, are a group of contaminants that form when chlorine mixes with organic matter in water.
In the EWG’s latest report, Phoenix tested at high levels for several different types of DBPs: haloacetic acids (HAA5), haloacetic acids (HAA9), and total trihalomethanes.
According to the Center for Disease Control, long-term exposure to DBPs can cause side effects like liver damage and decreased nervous system activity.
Some studies also suggest that specific DBPs, like trihalomethanes, may increase the risk of bladder cancer.
DBPs may also have negative effects on the reproductive systems in both men and women, including sperm quality, menstrual cycles, fetal growth, and preterm delivery.
Some homes built before 1986 used lead plumbing components, and when they rust they can leach lead into the water.
In the city’s most recent water quality report, 10% of residential homes tested positive for 4 mg/L of lead or higher.
This is quite high considering that the EPA’s maximum contaminant level for lead is zero.
Regulations are so strict because of lead’s extreme toxicity to the human body, especially in children.
Symptoms of long-term lead exposure in children include:
- Behavior and learning problems
- Hyperactivity
- Lower IQ
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Anemia
In pregnant women, lead in drinking water can affect the growth of the fetus and cause premature birth.
Adults exposed to lead may also suffer from cardiovascular effects, decreased kidney function, and reproductive problems in both men and women.
In the EWG’s latest report, Phoenix tested for radium levels 2.2x the organization’s recommended health guidelines.
Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element found in rocks and soil, but small amounts can also occur in groundwater supplies.
Deep aquifers are the most at risk, while shallow groundwater is less likely to have radium problems.
Exposure to radium in drinking water can cause symptoms like:
- Weakened immune function
- Anemia
- Cataracts
- Fractured teeth
- Increased risk of bone, liver and breast cancer
Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound used as a pesticide in fertilizers.
It is also present in high amounts in animal and human feces.
This means that nitrate contamination is most common in rural areas where farming and agriculture are taking place.
In the EWG’s latest report, nitrate concentrations in Phoenix drinking water were 16x the organization’s recommended health guidelines.
Consuming too much nitrates can be very dangerous, especially for infants and young children.
Bottle-fed babies under six months old have the highest risk of a condition called methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome.
Methemoglobinemia causes the skin to turn a bluish color because nitrate poisoning reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
Other symptoms of nitrate poisoning include:
- Increased heart rate
- Decreased blood pressure
- Headaches
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
Adults with the following medical conditions like anemia, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease are also at a higher risk.
Ever notice an “earthy” or “musty” smell in your tap water?
In the late summer and early fall months, algae growths in the canals can cause the water to smell a little funky.
The smell is so strong, in fact, that even after treatment it can reach all the way to your tap.
To combat the issue, the City of Phoenix adds extra disinfectant to the water, but it oftentimes isn’t enough to get rid of the smell.
About 98% of Phoenix’s water supply comes from the Salt, Verde, and Colorado Rivers, then travels through canals to the city’s water treatment plants.
Although the city does have access to a few groundwater wells, it uses very few of them.
The City of Phoenix uses a multi-step process or treat and maintain their drinking water quality:
- Screening and Presedimentation: Large particles and debris are removed by passing the water through screens. Next, the water sits in large tanks so that sediment can settle at the bottom.
- Coagulation, Flocculation, and Sedimentation: Chemicals, like alum and ferric chloride, are added to the water to cause particles to clump together. Once the particles clump together, they sink to the bottom so they’re easier to remove.
- Filtration: The cleaner water at the top of the container flows through filters to remove any remaining particles.
- Disinfection: They add chlorine to the water to kill germs and bacteria. A small amount of fluoride is also added to prevent tooth decay.
The City of Phoenix conducts more than five million tests and measurements throughout the year to monitor water quality.
They test source water before it enters the treatment plant and test at each phase of the treatment process.
They also test and monitor the water at different collection points throughout the distribution system.
After the water leaves the treatment center, it travels through 7,000 miles of water mains to the city’s residents.
Although the Water Utility does the best they can to keep Phoenix water quality in tip-top shape, they have obvious issues with certain contaminants like arsenic.
At the same time, roughly 10% of the city’s residential homes tested positive for lead.
With conditions like these, the only way to ensure safe drinking water for you and your family is to install a filtration system in your home.
However, not all water filters are created equal…
Basic carbon filters can only remove chlorine and low levels of lead, but they miss most of the nastiest pollutants like arsenic.
High quality reverse osmosis (RO) systems, on the other hand, can remove up to 99.9% of all harmful contaminants.
Cloud Water Filters combine several stages of filtration to keep your family safe, including:
- Sediment filters to trap dirt, rust, dust, and debris
- Activated carbon filters to remove chlorine and improve the taste and smell of your water
- Ion exchange resins to remove excess hard minerals like calcium and magnesium
- RO membranes to remove all the nastiest, difficult-to-remove pollutants like arsenic and chromium
- Polishing filters to catch any remaining contaminants
- Remineralization stage to add a healthy ratio of minerals back into the water and balance pH
Cloud even uses built-in software to monitor your water quality 24/7 through an app on your phone.
Are you ready to enjoy clean, delicious tap water?
