States › Arizona › Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County, AZ Water Quality

Water quality data for 7 public water systems serving Santa Cruz County, Arizona — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 7 water systems · 8 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Santa Cruz County Earns a B

Santa Cruz County: 8 communities across 7 water systems. 87.5% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 5.50 ppb
  • 2 communities with a lead detection, 6 reporting none detected
  • 1 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 1 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 87.5% of communities have no open violations
5.5 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
7
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
87%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Tubac
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Tumacacori-Carmen
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Kino Springs
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Amado
    3.00 ppb
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Patagonia
    Not detected
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Sonoita
    8.00 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Rio Rico
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 3 of 6 sampling points
    C
  • Nogales
    Not detected
    3 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Patagonia
    Not detected
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    A
  • Kino Springs
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
County Lead Level — Median 5.5 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 5.5 ppb — 36.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
1
5 – 10 ppb
1
No Data
6

All Cities in Santa Cruz County

Rio Rico Not detected C
Nogales Not detected B
Tubac Not detected B
Patagonia Not detected A
Tumacacori-Carmen Not detected B
Kino Springs Not detected B
Sonoita 8.00 ppb D
Amado 3.00 ppb B
Showing 8 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Santa Cruz County Drinking Water

Santa Cruz County is served by 7 water systems covering 8 communities. 88% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 2 recorded a detection, with a median of 5.50 ppb — 37% of the federal action level. 6 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

1 of 8 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 1 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Cruz County tap water safe to drink?▼
88% of communities have no open violation. 1 of 8 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Santa Cruz County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 5.50 ppb, 37% of the 15 ppb action level. 6 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Santa Cruz County?▼
7 community water systems serve 8 communities here.
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