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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Real EPA measurements of radium for Arizona water systems — Six-Year Review compliance samples 2012–2019 (historical). Methodology
Every Arizona system with a radium result in EPA's data, sorted by level. Averages of 2012–2019 finished-water samples, non-detects counted as zero — historical, not today's tap.
| City | Level | Period | EPA Limit | % of Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise ValleyGrade A | 2.25 pCi/LAverage of 2 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 45.0% | Safe |
| San LuisGrade F | 0.967 pCi/LAverage of 20 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 19.3% | Safe |
| KingmanGrade A | 0.429 pCi/LAverage of 21 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 8.6% | Safe |
| Lake Havasu CityGrade A | 0.400 pCi/LAverage of 1 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 8.0% | Safe |
| Show LowGrade B | 0.300 pCi/LAverage of 15 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 6.0% | Safe |
| TempeGrade C | 0.283 pCi/LAverage of 35 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 5.7% | Safe |
| Sierra VistaGrade A | 0.287 pCi/LAverage of 15 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 5.7% | Safe |
| PaysonGrade C | 0.286 pCi/LAverage of 35 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 5.7% | Safe |
| PrescottGrade F | 0.239 pCi/LAverage of 21 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 4.8% | Safe |
| FlagstaffGrade B | 0.236 pCi/LAverage of 11 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 4.7% | Safe |
| SurpriseGrade A | 0.197 pCi/LAverage of 117 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 3.9% | Safe |
| DouglasGrade A | 0.192 pCi/LAverage of 12 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 3.8% | Safe |
| AvondaleGrade D | 0.184 pCi/LAverage of 73 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 3.7% | Safe |
| MaricopaGrade C | 0.176 pCi/LAverage of 17 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 3.5% | Safe |
| BuckeyeGrade A | 0.171 pCi/LAverage of 7 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 3.4% | Safe |
| GlendaleGrade A | 0.144 pCi/LAverage of 27 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 2.9% | Safe |
| ChandlerGrade B | 0.125 pCi/LAverage of 133 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 2.5% | Safe |
| GoodyearGrade F | 0.121 pCi/LAverage of 29 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 2.4% | Safe |
| Bullhead CityGrade F | 0.120 pCi/LAverage of 20 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 2.4% | Safe |
| PhoenixGrade A | 0.102 pCi/LAverage of 47 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 2.0% | Safe |
| PeoriaGrade C | 0.095 pCi/LAverage of 55 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 1.9% | Safe |
| Queen CreekGrade A | 0.080 pCi/LAverage of 45 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 1.6% | Safe |
| GilbertGrade D | 0.064 pCi/LAverage of 50 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 1.3% | Safe |
| CottonwoodGrade A | 0.060 pCi/LAverage of 10 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 1.2% | Safe |
| TucsonGrade B | 0.055 pCi/LAverage of 148 samples | 2012–2019 | 5.00 pCi/L | 1.1% | Safe |
Showing 25 of 37 cities. View individual city pages for detailed reports.
Radium is a radioactive element that accumulates in bones and can cause bone cancer. Long-term exposure increases risk of bone cancer and may also increase risk of leukemia. Radium behaves similarly to calcium, so it deposits in bones and teeth where it continues to emit radiation, damaging bone marrow.
Erosion of natural deposits; found naturally in groundwater, especially in certain geologic formations
Based on our analysis of EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) data and local water utility reports,radium has been detected in 37 Arizona water systems. The average level across all tested cities is 4% of the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), with the highest detection at 45.0% of the limit.
The EPA MCL for combined radium-226 and radium-228 is 5 pCi/L. The EPA MCL for radium is 5 pCi/L. This limit is set to protect public health based on available scientific evidence about the contaminant's health effects.
37 Arizona cities have radium detected in their water supply. All tested cities are within EPA safety limits.
Increased risk of bone cancer and leukemia from long-term exposure. The most vulnerable groups include growing children and pregnant women.
The most effective methods for removing radium include Ion Exchange (Water Softening), Reverse Osmosis, Lime Softening. Look for filters certified by NSF/ANSI for radium reduction.
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for radium is 5 pCi/L.The EPA MCL for combined radium-226 and radium-228 is 5 pCi/L.
This page shows what Arizona utilities reported for radium. It cannot tell you what is coming out of your own tap: utility samples are taken across a whole system and averaged, levels vary by address and season, and anything picked up after the water leaves the main never appears in their report.
Home water test kitscheck your own tap before buying any filterRecommended filtration methods for radium removal:
Very effective for radium
Removes 90-95% of radium
Used in municipal treatment
Paid links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Filters are matched to the removal methods listed above for radium.