Water quality report

PAYSON TOWN OF

PAYSON, AZ · 17,682 people served · EPA PWSID AZ0404032

The bottom line

PAYSON TOWN OF (PAYSON, AZ), which serves about 17,682 people, has no health-based drinking-water violations on record since 2016. Its most recent lead 90th-percentile sample was 3.5 ppb, within the 15 ppb federal action level. EPA's UCMR5 program detected PFAS 'forever chemicals' in this system: PFBS (0.0548 µg/L), PFPeA (0.0482 µg/L), PFOS (0.0422 µg/L). PFOA/PFOS levels exceed the 2024 federal limit of 4 ppt (0.004 µg/L). A certified water filter can reduce these at the tap — see the certified options for each below.

health contaminants on record

PFAS detected (UCMR5)

total health violations since 2016

What the testing found

Measured levels from EPA violation records, compared to the federal limit (MCL). The black line marks the legal limit.

Lead

Within federal limit

Measured 3.5 ppb · federal limit 15 ppb · latest 12/31/2025 · 0 violations since 2016

No safe level. Damages developing brain/nervous system in children; linked to lower IQ, kidney and cardiovascular harm in adults. Usually enters water from corroding pipes/solder, not the source.

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PFAS "forever chemicals"

Detected by EPA's UCMR5 monitoring. The 2024 federal limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt (0.004 µg/L).

PFBS

Detected

Measured 0.0548 µg/L · sampled 11/16/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

PFPeA

Detected

Measured 0.0482 µg/L · sampled 11/16/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

PFOS

10.6× the 4 ppt limit

Measured 0.0422 µg/L · sampled 11/14/2023 · detection limit 0.004 µg/L

PFOA

10.2× the 4 ppt limit

Measured 0.0409 µg/L · sampled 11/16/2023 · detection limit 0.004 µg/L

PFHxA

Detected

Measured 0.0334 µg/L · sampled 11/16/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

PFBA

Detected

Measured 0.032 µg/L · sampled 4/11/2023 · detection limit 0.005 µg/L

PFHxS

Detected

Measured 0.0227 µg/L · sampled 11/16/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

PFHpA

Detected

Measured 0.0132 µg/L · sampled 11/14/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

PFDA

Detected

Measured 0.0035 µg/L · sampled 4/11/2023 · detection limit 0.003 µg/L

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Your recommended fix

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Want certainty about your tap specifically (not just the system)? A certified mail-in lab test is the gold standard — system-wide records can differ from your home's plumbing. Some links above are affiliate links — see our disclosure.

Sources & method. Contaminant levels and violations come from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (health-based violations, 2016–present); PFAS from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025). Levels shown are the highest recorded value in the violation records; a violation means the contaminant exceeded its federal limit at the system level. Your home's water can differ from the system average. Public domain data; we are not affiliated with the EPA.