01The verdict: is Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona water safe?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (92.2/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,125 residents using groundwater (wells).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 2.5 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
6 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's drinking water received a grade of A (92.2 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,125 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 2.5 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 86 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona ranks #28 out of 271 cities in Arizona for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona 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, Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water
Every contaminant flagged in Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 2.5 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Arizona
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Arizona
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 86 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 7.5 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 2.5 ppb (2022) — 17% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water comes from
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system (1 wholesaler), operated under native american ownership.
1,125 people
Residents served across Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's service area.
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 1,125 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gap-Cedar Ridge NTUA | NN0403009 | 1,125 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
6 federal disaster declarations on record for Apache County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona compares
Scores for nearby Arizona cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Arizona average (41/100)
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona scores 92.2/100 — above the Arizona average of 41/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Arizona rankings →
37.5 / 100FTucson, AZ
38.1 / 100FMesa, AZ
40.6 / 100FChandler, AZ
40.5 / 100FGilbert, AZ
34.8 / 100FScottsdale, AZ
43 / 100
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona, AZ tap water safe to drink?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water quality earned a grade of A (92.2/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #28 out of 271 cities tested in Arizona.
What contaminants are in Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water?
Lead was measured at 2.5 ppb (90th percentile). 86 violations are on record.
How is Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona'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 Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water come from?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,125 residents.
Is Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona 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 86 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 Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's water compare to other cities?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona ranks #28 out of 271 cities in Arizona (better than 90% of state cities) and #1344 out of 15382 cities nationally (91th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's small water system affect quality?
Gap/Cedar Ridge/Bittersprings,Arizona's system serves approximately 1,125 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 86 violations on record.