Having access to safe, clean water is essential

Ensuring the quality of drinking water is always a top priority for the AMWUA cities. To uphold this standard, city water professionals conduct thorough testing, analysis, and monitoring of water quality on a daily basis. This detailed effort ensures that the water supplied to local communities is clean and safe for all residents and commercial customers.

The AMWUA cities consistently meet all the safe drinking water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) , and the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department . These requirements fall under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which brings accountability and safeguards high water quality standards. 

In other words, your tap water is safe and clean. In fact, it is more rigorously regulated to meet the strictest health standards than bottled water. Water utilities across the country operate under some of the most stringent regulations, which include conducting over 100 comprehensive tests on your tap water each day. These tests examine various parameters, including microbial contaminants, chemical pollutants, and minerals, to ensure the water meets or exceeds the safety thresholds established by the EPA. However, maintaining consistently high water quality is a complex and ongoing challenge that involves regular monitoring, infrastructure maintenance, and advancements in water treatment technologies.

Throughout the year, Valley water utilities collectively perform millions of tests and measurements to ensure that water treatment and distribution systems are safe. Each of the AMWUA cities has an aggressive water quality program, led by a dedicated team of chemists, technicians, and specialists who conduct daily inspections of the various water service areas using state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories. They test for hundreds of substances to ensure that your water consistently meets safe drinking water standards.

When considering the multiple water sources utilized by the AMWUA cities, including the Colorado River, the Salt River Project (SRP), reclaimed water, and groundwater, we must recognize that each requires different treatment levels due to the varying composition of the water. Diverse water sources cannot be treated equally. To better address these treatment challenges, cities have invested in extensive infrastructure and advanced treatment facilities to ensure a consistent supply of safe and regulated water, while striving to keep it affordable for households throughout the Valley.

The water entering treatment plants contains many particles, many of which are natural organic particles suspended in the water. This makes the water appear cloudy, often referred to as turbidity, which measures the clarity of the water. The goal of the water treatment process is to decrease turbidity, treat the water, and remove any particles that may be harmful. After the multi-phased process, a chemical such as chlorine is added as the final stage of treatment to eliminate and prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing. A small amount of disinfectant is required in the drinking water system and must be maintained until the water is delivered to homes, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities throughout the Valley.

In addition to the treatment process, ongoing monitoring, and frequent testing of water samples, each municipality must provide regular reports on its water quality, detailing the results of each sample. Annually, a report containing all that data is compiled and submitted to ADEQ for final approval. This process ensures high water quality and promotes accountability while eliminating the risk of a significant water contamination crisis. Additionally, please note that you will be notified if water quality issues arise in your city.

You can always obtain information about the quality of the water delivered to your home from your local water provider. To view your municipality's latest water quality report, please visit the relevant links below. 

For 56 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit