Is Clearwater, FL tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Pinellas County Utilities.

3 public water systems serve parts of Clearwater. The largest, Pinellas County Utilities, serves 506,353 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Pinellas County Utilities

506,353 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID FL6521405

Buys treated water from Tampa Bay Water – Cypress Creek, Tampa Bay Water Reg. Surface Water Plant, City of St Petersburg.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 0.8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2020, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) No results since 2020
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Pinellas County Utilities results

Across Florida, 124 of 394 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 4 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Florida results.

Clearwater homes and lead pipes

56%

of homes built before 1980 (Florida 34%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Florida 4%)

41%

of households rent (Florida 32%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Clearwater city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Clearwater
Pinellas County Utilities 506,353 people	33756, 33759, 33761, 33763, 33764, 33765
Clearwater Water System 115,000 people	33755, 33767

Other water systems serving Clearwater

Clearwater Water System
115,000 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
PFOS detected
Tampa Bay Water – Cypress Creek
25 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Dunedin 4 mi Dunedin Water System	Dunedin Water System	None above limits	1.5 ppb
Pinellas Park 9 mi Pinellas Park Water Dept	Pinellas Park Water Dept	None above limits	–
Tarpon Springs 12 mi Tarpon Springs Water System	Tarpon Springs Water System	Above limit	1.6 ppb
Tampa 18 mi City of Tampa Water Department	City of Tampa Water Department	Above limit	1.5 ppb
Temple Terrace 24 mi City of Temple Terrace Utility	City of Temple Terrace Utility	Above limit	0 ppb
Bradenton 36 mi Manatee County Utilities Dept	Manatee County Utilities Dept	None above limits	1.7 ppb

Questions

Is Clearwater tap water safe to drink?

Pinellas County Utilities has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Clearwater, FL?

3 public water systems serve parts of Clearwater. The largest is Pinellas County Utilities (506,353 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Clearwater tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Pinellas County Utilities had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Clearwater homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 56% of Clearwater homes as built before 1980 (Florida: 34%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Pinellas County Utilities's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.