WaterVerge

Is Tusayan, AZ Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D+, with 100 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

3K residents served 4 water systems PWSID: AZ0403312
Overall Score
50 / 100
Violations
100 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#186 of 292 in Arizona Top 83% nationally
Private
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
D+GRADE
Water Quality Grade
50/100
waterverge.com
D+ 50/100

Tusayan, AZ — Water Quality Report

Tusayan's drinking water received a grade of D+ (50 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 4 water systems serve approximately 2,985 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 659 violations on record, including 18 health-based violations. 100 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Tusayan's water

Tusayan ranks #186 out of 292 cities in Arizona for water quality, placing it below average in the state.

Tusayan 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, Tusayan may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 43 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
50 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
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 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 Tusayan, AZ water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Tusayan's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (50/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 4 water systems serve approximately 2,985 residents using groundwater (wells).

100
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Tusayan

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Tusayan's water quality assessment. Grade: D+ (50/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Public Notice.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Public Notice.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Tusayan's water system has 659 total violations on record, including 18 health-based violations. 100 remain unresolved. 43 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

OtherRPTTTMONMRMCL
Most recent violations:
Nov 2025 Public Notice Open
Jul 2025 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Jul 2025 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Jan 2025 Public Notice Open
Dec 2024 Public Notice Open

Where does Tusayan's water come from?

Tusayan's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 4 water systems serving approximately 2,985 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Tusayan residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Tusayan'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
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

659
Total violations
18
Health-based
100
Active / unresolved
Nov 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

659 Total
100 Active
18 Health-based
559 Resolved
4 SNC
Violations by category
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
155
Volatile Organic Chemicals
120
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
101
Total Coliform Rule
90
Consumer Confidence Rule
53
Nov 2025 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jul 2025 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Jul 2025 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Jan 2025 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Dec 2024 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Nov 2024 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jul 2024 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Apr 2024 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jan 2024 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2023 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jun 2023 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Feb 2023 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jan 2023 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Dec 2022 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Nov 2022 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Oct 2022 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Oct 2022 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2022 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Reporting
Reporting 0
Showing 20 of 659 violations
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Tusayan

Industrial polluters nearby

Reported releases to surface water by facilities near Tusayan, ranked by pounds discharged annually.

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
U.S. NATL PARK SERVICE - GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Other · US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GRAND CANYON, AZ86023
5.4 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D2 — severe drought

Coconino County is currently in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

7
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
54.9%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
7
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 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 0.0 ppb from 2004 (0.0 ppb) to 2025 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Private
Population Served
2,985
Water Systems
4
Source breakdown
Groundwater
2
Purchased Groundwater
2
Water Source

Where Tusayan's water comes from

Groundwater

Tusayan'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 private ownership and serves approximately 2,985 people through 4 water systems.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Tusayan

System Name PWSID Population Source
HYDRO RESOURCES-TUSAYAN AZ0403312 1,710 GW
ADOT AIRPORT GRAND CANYON AZ0403010 1,140 GWP
USFS KNF TUSAYAN ADMIN AZ0403659 80 GWP
SAGE VALLEY MHP AZ0403299 55 GW
Regional Comparison

How Tusayan compares

Full Arizona rankings →

Tusayan's score of 50/100 is above the average of 42/100 among major Arizona cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Tusayan (this city)
50
Phoenix
37.5
Tucson
38.1
Mesa
40.6
Chandler
40.5
Gilbert
34.8
Arizona avg
42
City Profile

About Tusayan, AZ

Wikipedia →

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Tusayan, AZ tap water safe to drink?

Tusayan's water quality earned a grade of D+ (50/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #186 out of 292 cities tested in Arizona.

What contaminants are in Tusayan's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 659 violations are on record.

How is Tusayan'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 Tusayan?

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

Where does Tusayan's water come from?

Tusayan's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 4 water systems serving approximately 2,985 residents.

What health violations has Tusayan's water system had?

Tusayan has 18 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in November 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 100 violations remain unresolved.

Is Tusayan's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Tusayan 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 659 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 Tusayan's water compare to other cities?

Tusayan ranks #186 out of 292 cities in Arizona (better than 36% of state cities) and #13090 out of 15744 cities nationally (17th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.