Davis-Monthan Afb, AZ vs Tucson, AZ

When comparing tap water quality between Davis-Monthan Afb, AZ and Tucson, AZ, Tucson currently holds a substantial 34-point lead in average WaterQ score, with a score of 67 out of 100 versus 33 for Davis-Monthan Afb. Davis-Monthan Afb, AZ carries an F grade while Tucson, AZ carries a C. A WaterQ score reflects an aggregate of EPA-reported violations, monitoring data, and compliance history across all public water systems serving each city, so a higher score generally indicates fewer recent violations and a stronger compliance record, though it does not guarantee that every tap in the city tests identically.

Tucson, AZ is the larger of the two, with 915,791 more residents than Davis-Monthan Afb. Tucson is served by 28 public water systems, compared with 1 in Davis-Monthan Afb — a difference of 27 systems. A larger number of systems often reflects a more fragmented distribution network spanning multiple utilities, suburbs, or rural service areas, while a single large utility serving a big population can benefit from economies of scale in treatment and monitoring, but may also face more complex, aging infrastructure to maintain.

For residents of either Davis-Monthan Afb or Tucson, the most useful next step is to look up the specific water system that serves your address, since city-wide averages combine results from every system in the area. Visit the Davis-Monthan Afb or Tucson city pages below for a breakdown of local systems, recent violations, and contaminant-specific data, or browse WaterQ's contaminants directory to learn what each measured substance means for health.