Surprise
Surprise, AZ water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
surprise city of - mountain vista
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID AZ0407500
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 128,422 residents, Surprise ranks as the 13th-largest city in Arizona and a mid-sized city. Water in Surprise is sourced chiefly from Colorado River, groundwater, and Salt & Verde rivers, the backbone of Arizona's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: colorado river. A national leader in reuse — Scottsdale has demonstrated direct potable reuse — even as Colorado River cuts and groundwater limits constrain growth around Phoenix.
Statewide, Arizona recycles about 52% of its wastewater with established reuse programs. Locally, Surprise faces moderate to severe drought conditions.
The Arizona state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Surprise's water future.
Maricopa County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~128,422 (13th-largest in Arizona)
- Primary sources: Colorado River, groundwater, and Salt & Verde rivers
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~52% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Arizona in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Surprise?
Surprise's largest water system, SURPRISE CITY OF - MOUNTAIN VISTA, serves about 40,007 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Surprise get its water?
SURPRISE CITY OF - MOUNTAIN VISTA draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Arizona's supply from Colorado River, groundwater, Salt & Verde rivers.
Related water issues
Colorado River
The river that supplies 40 million people has lost roughly a fifth of its flow since 2000, forcing a renegotiation of how seven states share the water.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore