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Community Water System · PWS AZ0404032

Payson Town Of

Payson, Arizona 85541 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 17,682 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

17,682
People served
1,716
EPA violations
1
Health-based
9 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 1,716 drinking-water violations at Payson Town Of - above the Arizona per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 9 PFAS compounds.

1,716
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
17,682
People served by this system
9
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Payson Town Of

Payson Town Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,682 residents in Payson, Arizona (Gila County) through 7,688 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 1,716 total violations for this system , of which 1 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 1,701 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Endothall, recorded in 65 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 9 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 54.8 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Arizona, EPA tracks 1,493 public water systems serving 7,322,166 people, with 228,944 cumulative violations and 15,663 health-based violations on record. About 98% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 153.3 violations. Statewide, 145 of 152 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (95.4%).

Payson Town Of's 1,716 violations sit above the Arizona average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

9 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
17,682
Total Violations
1,716
Health-Based Violations
1
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
7,688
County
Gila
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
1
Monitoring Violations
1,701
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Endothall MR 65 2019
Diquat MR 55 2019
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 55 2019
OXAMYL MR 52 2019
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 52 2019
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 52 2019
Dalapon MR 51 2019
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 51 2019
Simazine MR 51 2019
Picloram MR 51 2019
Dinoseb MR 51 2019
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 51 2019
Carbofuran MR 51 2019
Atrazine MR 51 2019
2,4-D MR 51 2019
2,4,5-TP MR 51 2019
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 51 2019
Pentachlorophenol MR 51 2019
Methoxychlor MR 51 2019
Toxaphene MR 51 2019
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 50 2019
Chlordane MR 50 2019
Glyphosate MR 45 2019
Endrin MR 37 2019
Heptachlor MR 37 2019
LASSO MR 36 2019
Heptachlor epoxide MR 36 2019
BHC-GAMMA MR 36 2019
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 32 2019
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 26 2013

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 201 of 1508 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBA 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/7/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/7/2023 6.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/7/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/7/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/16/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/16/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/16/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/16/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/16/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/16/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

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 Payson Town Of.

Federal Source of Truth

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 AZ0404032 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Arizona Drinking Water Authority

Arizona DEQ, Drinking Water Program is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Payson Town Of under EPA-delegated authority.

Open AZ regulator portal

Source: Arizona DEQ, Drinking Water Program

Violation 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
2025 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 5000
2023 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 7500
2021 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 8000
2020 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 0300
2020 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 0200
2019 Endothall MR 65 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2033
2019 Diquat MR 55 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2032
2019 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 55 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2039
2019 OXAMYL MR 52 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2036
2019 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 52 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2931
2019 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 52 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2946
2019 Dalapon MR 51 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2031
2019 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 51 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2035
2019 Simazine MR 51 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2037
2019 Picloram MR 51 SDWIS / AZ0404032 / 2040

How Payson Town Of Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Payson Town Of Arizona avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 1,716 153.3 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 1 10.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 9 compounds 95.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,682 4,904 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,493 regulated public water systems in Arizona.

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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Payson Town Of water safe to drink? ▼
Payson Town Of (PWS ID: AZ0404032) has 1716 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 9 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 17,682 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Payson Town Of serve? ▼
Payson Town Of serves 17,682 people in Payson, Arizona. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 7,688 service connections.
What type of violations does Payson Town Of have? ▼
Payson Town Of has 1,716 total violations: 1 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 1,701 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Payson Town Of water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 9 PFAS compounds in Payson Town Of's water supply: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFHxS, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Payson Town Of use? ▼
Payson Town Of uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.