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Community Water System · PWS AZ0407026

Desert Hills Water

Cave Creek, Arizona 85331 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 4,220 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,220
People served
125
EPA violations
13
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 125 drinking-water violations at Desert Hills Water, 10% of them health-based - below the Arizona per-system average.

125
Total EPA violations on record
10%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,220
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Desert Hills Water

Desert Hills Water is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,220 residents in Cave Creek, Arizona (Maricopa County) through 1,838 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 125 total violations for this system , of which 13 (10%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 85 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Consumer Confidence Rule, recorded in 18 violations (Other). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Desert Hills Water's 125 violations sit below 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.

Population Served
4,220
Total Violations
125
Health-Based Violations
13
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
1,838
County
Maricopa
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
13
Monitoring Violations
85
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 18 2016
Chlorine MR 18 2017
Arsenic MCL 13 2010
Arsenic MR 10 2018
TTHM MR 9 2018
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 9 2018
Nitrate MR 4 2009
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2008
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 2018
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 1 2001
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 1 2001
Trichloroethylene MR 1 2001
Tetrachloroethylene MR 1 2001
CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2001
Benzene MR 1 2001
Toluene MR 1 2001
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 1 2001
Styrene MR 1 2001
Radium-228 MR 1 2004
Radium-226 MR 1 2004
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 1 2004
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 2001
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 1 2001
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 2001
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 2001
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 1 2001
Fluoride MR 1 1988
Selenium MR 1 1988
Cadmium MR 1 1988
Ethylbenzene MR 1 2001

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

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

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 AZ0407026 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 Desert Hills Water 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
2018 Arsenic MR 10 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 1005
2018 TTHM MR 9 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 2950
2018 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 9 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 2456
2018 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 8000
2017 Chlorine MR 18 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 0999
2017 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 5000
2016 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 18 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 7000
2010 Arsenic MCL 13 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 1005
2009 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 1040
2008 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 3100
2004 Radium-228 MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 4030
2004 Radium-226 MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 4020
2004 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 4010
2003 Glyphosate MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 2034
2001 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 1 SDWIS / AZ0407026 / 2980

How Desert Hills Water Compares

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

Metric Desert Hills Water Arizona avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 125 153.3 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 13 10.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 95.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 4,220 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 Desert Hills Water water safe to drink? ▼
Desert Hills Water (PWS ID: AZ0407026) has 125 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,220 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Desert Hills Water serve? ▼
Desert Hills Water serves 4,220 people in Cave Creek, Arizona. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,838 service connections.
What type of violations does Desert Hills Water have? ▼
Desert Hills Water has 125 total violations: 13 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 85 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Desert Hills Water water? ▼
No. Desert Hills Water was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Desert Hills Water use? ▼
Desert Hills Water uses Surface Water 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.