Is there PFAS in City of Safford water?
Yes, at low levels. 2 PFAS were detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.
City of Safford
Serves 20,600 people · 12 PFOA samples from 6 sampling points · Mar 2024 to Sep 2024
PFAS found, below EPA limits
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
not detected
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.1 avg
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFBA.
City of Safford is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Safford, Arizona, serving about 20,600 people, including Safford, Solomon, Thatcher. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 12 times across 6 sampling points between Mar 2024 and Sep 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: NFDHA, 8:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, ADONA, PFMPA, PFPeA, PFEESA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFHpS, PFMBA, PFOA, PFPeS, PFTA, HFPO-DA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, NMeFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS, PFDA, PFDoA, PFHxA, PFUnA, NEtFOSAA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 271 ppb, detected in 12 of 12 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Levels here are under EPA's limits, so no treatment is required. If you want them lower anyway, a certified reverse osmosis system under the sink handles drinking water, and a whole-house carbon filter also takes out the chlorine or chloramine your utility adds.
Other systems in Arizona
All 152 tested systems in Arizona
ZIP codes served
85546 85551 85552
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in City of Safford water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID AZ0405005. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/arizona/city-of-safford/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID AZ0405005). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
