Tempe
Tempe, AZ water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
tempe city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID AZ0407100
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 175,826 residents, Tempe ranks as the 9th-largest city in Arizona and a mid-sized city. Water in Tempe 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, Tempe faces moderate to severe drought conditions.
The Arizona state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Tempe's water future.
Maricopa County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~175,826 (9th-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 Tempe?
Tempe's largest water system, TEMPE CITY OF, serves about 165,000 people. EPA records show 2 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 4.4 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Tempe get its water?
TEMPE CITY OF draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), 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