Queen Creek releases annual water quality report

Queen Creek’s 2024 Annual Water Quality Report finds that the town’s drinking water “has exceeded all health standards” set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state.

“The utilities department takes thousands of water samples to determine the presence of microbiological and various contaminants. Efforts to sample and test our water have documented that the town of Queen Creek water has exceeded all health standards,” according to the report. “Of the regulated substances tested, all were within allowable levels and no health-based violations were reported.”

Federal law requires tap water suppliers to provide an annual report on water quality once a year. The water division tests for a wide array of contaminants such as arsenic, nitrate, copper and lead.

Queen Creek’s drinking water comes from groundwater sources that are pumped through a combination of 33 active drinking water wells.

The town is working on reducing its dependence on area groundwater.

Since July 2023, Queen Creek has been receiving 2,033 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year. The town also acquired 5,000 acre-feet of water from the Harquahala groundwater basin in La Paz and Maricopa counties. Both moves will add 500,000 acre-feet to the town’s water portfolio over the next 100 years, according to town officials.

In 2023, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced that state officials would no longer issue 100-year water assurance certificates to new developments that rely on groundwater. The measure has affected outlying Valley cities and towns such as Queen Creek and Buckeye.

On June 18, Republican lawmakers struck a deal with Hobbs that will allow homebuilders to buy water rights from farmers who retire their agricultural land.

All current Queen Creek residential water customers have a certificate of 100-year assured water supply.

The 2024 Annual Water Quality Report is now available online in English and Spanish at QueenCreekAZ.gov/WaterQuality.

To speak with a member of the utilities department about the report or to request a paper copy of the report, call 480-358-3459.

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