Kitt Peak National Observatory
PWS ID: 090402057 · Tucson, 09 85719
Kitt Peak National Observatory serves 247 people in Tucson, 09 using Surface Water water sources. It has 97 recorded EPA violations, including 57 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory is a federal-owned non-transient non-community water system that delivers drinking water to 247 residents in Tucson, 09 through 41 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 97 total violations for this system , of which 57 (59%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 21 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 47 violations (MCL, health-based). This system has not yet been sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, so no PFAS detection data is available here.
Across 09, EPA tracks 323 public water systems serving 555,721 people, with 48,296 cumulative violations and 3,354 health-based violations on record. About 97% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 149.5 violations. Kitt Peak National Observatory's 97 violations sit below the 09 average. Statewide, 30 of 41 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (73.2%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Non-Transient Non-Community
- Owner Type
- Federal
- Connections
- 41
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 57
- Monitoring Violations
- 21
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | MCL | 47 | 2012 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL | 9 | 2009 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 7 | 2011 |
| TTHM | MR | 7 | 2011 |
| Nitrate | MR | 4 | 2010 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | RPT | 3 | 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | RPT | 2 | 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | 2008 |
| Chlorite | MCL | 1 | 2017 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 1 | 2009 |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Kitt Peak National Observatory.
EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID 090402057 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
09 Drinking Water Authority
09's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.
Find 09 regulator via EPA SDWISViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | RPT | 3 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 5200 |
| 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | RPT | 2 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 8000 |
| 2017 | Chlorite | MCL | 1 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 1009 |
| 2012 | TTHM | MCL | 47 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 2950 |
| 2011 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 7 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 2456 |
| 2011 | TTHM | MR | 7 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 2950 |
| 2010 | Nitrate | MR | 4 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 1040 |
| 2009 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL | 9 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 2456 |
| 2009 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 1 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 3100 |
| 2008 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | SDWIS / 090402057 / 5000 |
How Kitt Peak National Observatory Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Kitt Peak National Observatory | 09 avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 97 | 149.5 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 57 | 10.4 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 73.2% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 247 | 1,720 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 323 regulated public water systems in 09.
Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Data for 09
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.