01The verdict: is Red Mesa water safe?
Red Mesa's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D (49/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,023 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
54 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 1.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓25 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Red Mesa's drinking water received a grade of D (49 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,023 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 1.0 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 448 violations on record, including 33 health-based violations. 54 remain unresolved.
Red Mesa ranks #187 out of 271 cities in Arizona for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Red Mesa may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 25 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Red Mesa's water
Every contaminant flagged in Red Mesa, 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. | 1.0 | 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
03Red Mesa'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 448 violations on record, including 33 health-based violations. 54 remain unresolved.
1 of the last ten years was clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 0 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1 ppb (2025) — 7% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Red Mesa's water comes from
Red Mesa's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
2 systems
2 water systems (1 wholesaler), operated under native american ownership.
1,023 people
Residents served across Red Mesa's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by native american ownership and serves approximately 1,023 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Mesa NTUA | NN4903017 | 1,023 | Purchased Surface Water |
| Red Mesa Public Schools | NN0400299 | 900 | Purchased Surface Water |
05Pressure on Red Mesa'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 Red Mesa compares
Scores for nearby Arizona cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Arizona average (41/100)
Red Mesa scores 49/100 — above the Arizona average of 41/100. It outscores 9 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 Red Mesa's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Red Mesa'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 Red Mesa 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 Red Mesa, AZ tap water safe to drink?
Red Mesa's water quality earned a grade of D (49/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #187 out of 271 cities tested in Arizona.
What contaminants are in Red Mesa's water?
Lead was measured at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile). 448 violations are on record.
How is Red Mesa'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 Red Mesa?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Red Mesa's water come from?
Red Mesa's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 1,023 residents.
What health violations has Red Mesa's water system had?
Red Mesa has 33 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 54 violations remain unresolved.
How does Red Mesa's water compare to other cities?
Red Mesa ranks #187 out of 271 cities in Arizona (better than 31% of state cities) and #13116 out of 15382 cities nationally (15th percentile). The grade of D reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.