WaterVerge

Is Aneth, AZ Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D — but Copper was detected above EPA limits. Here's what's in the water and how to remove it. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 2 water systems PWSID: NN4900220
Overall Score
46 / 100
Violations
22 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#235 of 292 in Arizona Top 89% nationally
Native American
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
DGRADE
Water Quality Grade
46/100
waterverge.com
D 46/100

Aneth, AZ — Water Quality Report

Aneth's drinking water received a grade of D (46 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,673 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 149 violations on record, including 52 health-based violations. 22 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Aneth's water

Aneth ranks #235 out of 292 cities in Arizona for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated 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 22 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
46 out of 100 Grade D
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
0/45
F
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
16/20
B
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 (46/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,673 residents using groundwater (wells).

22
Active Violations
2.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

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 (46/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Arsenic.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Revised Total Coliform Rule.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Arsenic.

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.

Copper Exceeds Limit
Detected: 1.90 mg/L Limit: 1.3 mg/L (EPA Action Level)

Exceeds EPA action level. Copper can leach from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking.

Violation history

Aneth's water system has 149 total violations on record, including 52 health-based violations. 22 remain unresolved. 22 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MRRPTMCLOtherMONTT
Most recent violations:
Oct 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Aug 2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule Open
Jan 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Jan 2024 Arsenic Resolved
Oct 2023 Arsenic Resolved

Where does Aneth's water come from?

Aneth's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 2 water systems serving approximately 1,673 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.

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
Copper (90th percentile)
Inorganic
Over Limit
1.90 mg/L
EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L · +20% over limit
Exceeds Limit
Compliance Record

Violation summary

149
Total violations
52
Health-based
22
Active / unresolved
Oct 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

149 Total
22 Active
52 Health-based
127 Resolved
Violations by category
Arsenic Rule
57
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
33
Volatile Organic Chemicals
21
Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule
9
Revised Total Coliform Rule
8
Aug 2024 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Reporting
Reporting 0
Oct 2023 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Reporting
Reporting 0
Sep 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2021 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
May 2020 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Reporting
Reporting 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
Aug 2016 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Apr 2016 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Apr 2016 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
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
Jan 2011 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2006 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2004 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jan 2004 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Showing 20 of 149 violations

Recommended water filters

Based on contaminants detected in Aneth's water supply, we recommend the following filter types.

🔧
For Copper
Reverse Osmosis or KDF Filter
Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Copper (90th percentile) 1.90 1.3 mg/L Inorganic Over Limit
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).

Copper level (90th percentile)

Latest reading: 1.900 mg/L (2010)

EPA action level: 1.3 mg/L

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Native American
Population Served
1,673
Water Systems
2
Source breakdown
Groundwater
1
Purchased Groundwater
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 1,673 people through 2 water systems.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Aneth

System Name PWSID Population Source
Aneth NTUA NN4900220 1,481 GW
Aneth Community School BIA NN4932002 192 GWP
Regional Comparison

How Aneth compares

Full Arizona rankings →

Aneth's score of 46/100 is on par with the average of 42/100 among major Arizona cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Aneth (this city)
46
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 (46/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #235 out of 292 cities tested in Arizona.

What contaminants are in Aneth's water?

Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 149 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 2 water systems serving approximately 1,673 residents.

What health violations has Aneth's water system had?

Aneth has 52 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. 22 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 149 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 #235 out of 292 cities in Arizona (better than 20% of state cities) and #14037 out of 15744 cities nationally (11th percentile). The grade of D reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.