Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0Living in Surprise, AZ: what to set up and who to call
The Epcor - Agua Fria water system reported 2 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule), a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule). 86% of systems its size reported none. Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, 4.7 miles away, is the nearest emergency room.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Surprise, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Surprise.
Power comes from APS
APS (Arizona Public Service Co.), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Surprise. Its homes paid an average of 17.0¢ per kWh in 2025, about $165 a month (its average across Arizona).
Start or move service: aps.com
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Epcor - Agua Fria water system
The Epcor - Agua Fria water system supplies Surprise: about 54% of residents live in its service area. Surprise City of - Mountain Vista serves another 36%. It draws surface water (EPA lists Arizona Water Co - White Tanks and Surprise City of - Mountain Vista as sellers) and serves 127,718 people in all.
2 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule), a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule), the latest beginning Aug 2025. 86% of the 332 systems serving 100,001–250,000 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2022–Dec 2024, was 0.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. Results below detection are reported as 0, so 0 doesn’t mean no lead at any tap.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. AZ0407695.
10 home internet providers serve Surprise
99% of 64,525 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 88% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Communications | Cable, Fiber | 96% | 2,000/100 |
| Wyyerd Connect | Fiber | 74% | 5,000/5,000 |
| CenturyLink | DSL, Fiber | 66% | 140/20 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | 12% | 8,000/8,000 |
| AirFiber WISP | Fixed wireless | 89% | 100/25 |
| Tristate Wi-Fi by Wi-Fiber | Fixed wireless | 67% | 400/400 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
Trash and recycling in Surprise
Pickup days, the drop-off and recycling in Surprise, from the town’s own site.
We couldn’t find pickup days or drop-off hours. Check surpriseaz.gov →
From surpriseaz.gov, the town’s official site, checked Oct 21, 2026. Rules change: the town’s page is the last word. .
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Most of Surprise (60%) is in Dysart Unified District; parts are in Nadaburg Unified School District (27%) and Wickenburg Unified District (13%).
B+School gradeSee Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Sep 2025; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Surprise spans 5 ZIP codes
ZIP codes where Surprise residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Surprise | ZIP’s residents in Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85379 | Surprise, AZ | 35% | 100% |
| 85374 | Surprise, AZ | 29% | 100% |
| 85388 | Surprise, AZ | 21% | 98% |
| 85387 | Surprise, AZ | 10% | 84% |
| 85378 | Surprise, AZ | 6% | 92% |
A few homes fall in 85361, 85396.
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Surprise
Who supplies Surprise’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Epcor - Agua Fria water system (EPA ID AZ0407695). It reported 2 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule), a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule). 86% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 0.0 ppb (Jan 2022–Dec 2024), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Surprise?
APS (Arizona Public Service Co.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 17.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Surprise?
Cox Communications, Wyyerd Connect, CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber, AirFiber WISP, Tristate Wi-Fi by Wi-Fiber (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Surprise?
85379 (35%), 85374 (29%), 85388 (21%), 85387 (10%), 85378 (6%), by share of residents. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Surprise in?
Dysart Unified District. Parts of the city are in Nadaburg Unified School District and Wickenburg Unified District.
How do I register to vote in Surprise?
In Arizona you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before). Elections here are run by the Maricopa County Recorder. Check your registration at my.arizona.vote.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: Surprise’s own website (surpriseaz.gov), read Oct 21, 2026, pickup and drop-off facts extracted and checked against the page they came from.
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.