Lithium Contamination

Lithium in Arizona Drinking Water

Ranked by max lithium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 5 data (2023–2025) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

107

Cities Tested

107

Detected

100%

% Detected

120.7 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

241

Health Violations

Analysis

Lithium in Arizona: what the data shows

Arizona has 107 cities with lithium data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). Lithium was detected in 107 of those cities. There is currently no federal MCL or health advisory for lithium — the state average max detected level is 120.7 µg/L. Nationally, lithium is detected in roughly 28% of sampled water systems. Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in arid western states, and is concentrated in some surface waters near industrial discharge or geothermal sources. UCMR 5 added lithium monitoring in 2023, providing the first systematic national snapshot of public-water lithium levels. At therapeutic doses (administered as a medication), lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Chronic low-dose exposure from drinking water has been associated in some studies with effects on thyroid function and possibly mood. The most protective state guidance value is around 60 µg/L. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are effective removal methods.

Comparison

Cities exceeding No federal MCL or HA

Arizona

100%

107 of 107 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

2808 of 2808 cities

City Map

Lithium data across Arizona

Each dot is a city with UCMR 5 lithium testing data. Detected cities are shown — there is no federal limit, though some states use 60 µg/L as a screening level. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lithium level in Arizona

Highest Lithium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Arizona cities ranked by lithium level

#	City	Level	Detected?	Violations	Grade
1	Apache Junction	796.0 µg/L	Detected	18	F
2	Bullhead City	580.0 µg/L	Detected	57	F
3	Mesa	525.0 µg/L	Detected	3	F
4	Buckeye	468.0 µg/L	Detected	103	F
5	Casa Grande	353.0 µg/L	Detected	44	F
6	Goodyear	335.0 µg/L	Detected	3	F
7	Florence	320.0 µg/L	Detected	60	F
8	Globe	308.0 µg/L	Detected	46	F
9	Chandler	305.0 µg/L	Detected	32	F
10	Tempe	278.0 µg/L	Detected	3	D+
11	Safford	271.0 µg/L	Detected	9	D
12	Maricopa	263.0 µg/L	Detected	228	D
13	Gilbert	258.0 µg/L	Detected	11	F
14	Buckeye-Sono	253.0 µg/L	Detected	2	B-
15	White Tanks	246.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
16	Salt River Indian Community	231.0 µg/L	Detected	22	B
17	Ganado, Cornfield, Steamboat, Woodspring	230.0 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
18	Tucson	228.0 µg/L	Detected	150	F
19	Rimrock	216.0 µg/L	Detected	53	C-
20	Yuma	210.0 µg/L	Detected	318	F
21	Miami	200.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B
22	San Manuel	190.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A-
23	Lower Greasewood	187.0 µg/L	Detected	9	C+
24	Johnson Ranch	185.0 µg/L	Detected	7	D
25	Litchfield Park	166.0 µg/L	Detected	21	F
26	Green Valley	166.0 µg/L	Detected	9	D
27	Peoria	162.0 µg/L	Detected	13	F
28	Phoenix	160.0 µg/L	Detected	59	F
29	Queen Creek	152.0 µg/L	Detected	14	D
30	Douglas	152.0 µg/L	Detected	55	D
31	Parker	150.0 µg/L	Detected	148	F
32	Sacaton, Sacaton Flats,Upper San Tan, Bl	150.0 µg/L	Detected	11	B
33	Eagar	142.0 µg/L	Detected	9	C
34	Fort Defiance, Window Rock, St. Michaels	138.0 µg/L	Detected	22	B-
35	Sun City West	132.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
36	Glendale	130.0 µg/L	Detected	5	F
37	Sahuarita	130.0 µg/L	Detected	19	F
38	Wildhorse Pass Casino, St. Johns Komatke	121.0 µg/L	Detected	12	B+
39	Page	120.0 µg/L	Detected	8	F
40	Avondale	114.0 µg/L	Detected	13	C+
41	Tolleson	110.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
42	San Luis	103.0 µg/L	Detected	8	D
43	Lake Havasu City	100.0 µg/L	Detected	5	D
44	Somerton	97.7 µg/L	Detected	17	D
45	Surprise	95.7 µg/L	Detected	18	F
46	Dilcon, Indian Wells, Lower Greasewood,	92.4 µg/L	Detected	47	B-
47	Mohave Valley	91.3 µg/L	Detected	14	F
48	Ak-Chin Village	90.8 µg/L	Detected	10	A-
49	Scottsdale	90.4 µg/L	Detected	22	F
50	Eloy	89.2 µg/L	Detected	64	D
51	Pinon, South Pinon, Burnt Corn, Blue Gap	84.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A
52	Marana	80.0 µg/L	Detected	13	F
53	Rio Verde	75.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
54	Fountain Hills	74.7 µg/L	Detected	21	F
55	San Carlos	72.8 µg/L	Detected	140	D
56	Anthem	72.3 µg/L	Detected	1	B
57	Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Churchrock	67.0 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
58	Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Churchrock	67.0 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
59	Sells, Big Fields	64.1 µg/L	Detected	3	A
60	Cave Creek	62.0 µg/L	Detected	25	C-
61	Cottonwood	59.0 µg/L	Detected	184	D
62	Nogales	57.4 µg/L	Detected	39	F
63	Payson	57.2 µg/L	Detected	60	F
64	Ganado	55.0 µg/L	Detected	3	D
65	Crownpoint, Littlewater, Three Mile Poin	53.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A
66	Crownpoint, Littlewater, Three Mile Poin	53.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A
67	Camp Verde	52.5 µg/L	Detected	149	D
68	El Mirage	51.5 µg/L	Detected	3	D
69	Kayenta	51.0 µg/L	Detected	0	D
70	Carefree	51.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
71	Upper Fruitland, Nenahnezad, San Juan, N	50.4 µg/L	Detected	9	B+
72	Upper Fruitland, Nenahnezad, San Juan, N	50.4 µg/L	Detected	9	B+
73	Paradise Valley	49.6 µg/L	Detected	3	C
74	Sun City	46.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B
75	Kingman	40.0 µg/L	Detected	110	D
76	Toadlena, Two Grey Hills	38.6 µg/L	Detected	51	D
77	Toadlena, Two Grey Hills	38.6 µg/L	Detected	51	D
78	Chinle, Many Farms, Del Muerto	37.8 µg/L	Detected	10	B+
79	Prescott	36.0 µg/L	Detected	33	F
80	Oracle	35.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A+
81	Willcox	34.7 µg/L	Detected	7	D
82	First Mesa Consolidated Villages	34.1 µg/L	Detected	74	D
83	Sedona	32.9 µg/L	Detected	174	F
84	Superior	32.0 µg/L	Detected	0	C-
85	Show Low	25.1 µg/L	Detected	60	D
86	Prescott Valley	24.7 µg/L	Detected	6	D
87	Wickenburg	24.0 µg/L	Detected	21	F
88	Benson	24.0 µg/L	Detected	29	D
89	Vaya Chin, Hickiwan, San Simon Village/S	24.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
90	Morenci	23.0 µg/L	Detected	15	C-
91	Whiteriver	22.7 µg/L	Detected	7	D
92	Topock	22.0 µg/L	Detected	13	C
93	Rio Rico	20.2 µg/L	Detected	4	C
94	Catalina	20.0 µg/L	Detected	2	D
95	Oro Valley	19.0 µg/L	Detected	11	D
96	Holbrook	18.0 µg/L	Detected	6	F
97	Bisbee	17.0 µg/L	Detected	15	F
98	Pine	16.8 µg/L	Detected	10	F
99	Saint Johns	16.0 µg/L	Detected	7	C+
100	Pinetop	15.0 µg/L	Detected	12	D
101	Sierra Vista	14.2 µg/L	Detected	44	D
102	Snowflake	14.0 µg/L	Detected	1	C+
103	Fort Huachuca	13.5 µg/L	Detected	9	F
104	Concho	13.0 µg/L	Detected	17	D
105	Tuba City	12.0 µg/L	Detected	3	A
106	Patagonia	12.0 µg/L	Detected	4	C+
107	Clarkdale	11.0 µg/L	Detected	0	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lithium in Arizona

Is lithium in Arizona tap water harmful?

Lithium has no federal MCL or health advisory. Some state agencies use 60 µg/L as a screening level. 107 cities in Arizona had detectable lithium in UCMR 5 testing. Therapeutic lithium doses (used to treat bipolar disorder) are far higher than typical drinking-water levels, but chronic low-level exposure has been studied for potential thyroid and mood effects.

Where does lithium in tap water come from?

Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in arid western states with lithium-bearing geology (parts of Nevada, California, North Carolina, Texas). It can also enter water from industrial sources such as battery manufacturing, ceramics, and lithium-mining wastewater. Geothermal hot springs are another natural source.

How can I remove lithium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis is highly effective at removing lithium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems and distillation also work well. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against lithium. If you rely on a private well in a lithium-rich geological area, consider testing.

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