WaterVerge

Is Aneth, AZ Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D+, with 11 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

1K residents served 1 water system PWSID: NN4900220
Overall Score
54.3 / 100
Violations
11 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#174 of 292 in Arizona Top 80% nationally
Native American
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
D+GRADE
Water Quality Grade
54.3/100
waterverge.com
D+ 54.3/100

Aneth, AZ — Water Quality Report

Aneth's drinking water received a grade of D+ (54.3 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,481 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 131 violations on record, including 49 health-based violations. 11 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Aneth's water

Aneth ranks #174 out of 292 cities in Arizona for water quality, placing it below average in the state.

Aneth relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Aneth may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 18 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
54.3 out of 100 Grade D+
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
4.3/45
F
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Aneth, AZ water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Aneth's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (54.3/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,481 residents using groundwater (wells).

11
Active Violations
2.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
6 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Aneth

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Aneth's water quality assessment. Grade: D+ (54.3/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Arsenic.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Arsenic.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Arsenic.

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4620). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3241). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Aneth's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Aneth's water system has 131 total violations on record, including 49 health-based violations. 11 remain unresolved. 18 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MRMCLOther
Most recent violations:
Oct 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Jan 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Jan 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Oct 2023 Arsenic Resolved
Jul 2023 Arsenic Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Apache County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1970. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4620
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3241
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-977

Where does Aneth's water come from?

Aneth's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,481 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Aneth residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Aneth's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

Aneth's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
2.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 13% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

131
Total violations
49
Health-based
11
Active / unresolved
Oct 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

131 Total
11 Active
49 Health-based
120 Resolved
Violations by category
Arsenic Rule
57
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
33
Volatile Organic Chemicals
21
Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule
8
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
4
Apr 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2021 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2020 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2018 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jan 2017 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2016 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2016 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2015 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2013 Active
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2013 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Oct 2024 Resolved
Arsenic
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2024
Jan 2024 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 2024
Jan 2024 Resolved
Arsenic
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2024
Oct 2023 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2023
Jul 2023 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2023
Apr 2023 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2023
Jan 2023 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 2023
Oct 2022 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2022
Jul 2022 Resolved
Arsenic
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2022
Showing 20 of 131 violations
Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

6
Declared disasters
Sep 2021
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Apache County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1970. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2021
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4620
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3241
Jan 1993
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #977
Oct 1983
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #691
Mar 1978
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #551
Sep 1970
HEAVY RAINS & FLASH
Flood FEMA #294

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 4.0 ppb from 1993 (6.0 ppb) to 2025 (2.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Native American
Population Served
1,481
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Aneth's water comes from

Groundwater

Aneth's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by native american ownership and serves approximately 1,481 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Aneth

System Name PWSID Population Source
Aneth NTUA NN4900220 1,481 GW
Regional Comparison

How Aneth compares

Full Arizona rankings →

Aneth's score of 54.3/100 is above the average of 42/100 among major Arizona cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Aneth (this city)
54.3
Phoenix
37.5
Tucson
38.1
Mesa
40.6
Chandler
40.5
Gilbert
34.8
Arizona avg
42
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Frequently asked questions

Is Aneth, AZ tap water safe to drink?

Aneth's water quality earned a grade of D+ (54.3/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #174 out of 292 cities tested in Arizona.

What contaminants are in Aneth's water?

Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 131 violations are on record.

How is Aneth's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Aneth?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Aneth's water come from?

Aneth's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,481 residents.

What health violations has Aneth's water system had?

Aneth has 49 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 11 violations remain unresolved.

Is Aneth's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Aneth uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 131 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Aneth's water compare to other cities?

Aneth ranks #174 out of 292 cities in Arizona (better than 40% of state cities) and #12617 out of 15744 cities nationally (20th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Aneth's small water system affect quality?

Aneth's system serves approximately 1,481 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 131 violations on record.