Is Sarasota, 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 Sarasota County Special Utilities District. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.

7 public water systems serve parts of Sarasota. The largest, Sarasota County Special Utilities District, serves 272,267 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Sarasota County Special Utilities District

272,267 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID FL6581591

Buys treated water from Peace River Regional Water Plant, Manatee County Utilities Dept.

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: 0.5 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Sarasota County Special Utilities District 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.

Sarasota homes and lead pipes

58%

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

built before 1950 (Florida 4%)

43%

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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota
Sarasota County Special Utilities District 272,267 people	34234, 34237, 34239
City of Sarasota 55,364 people	34236

Other water systems serving Sarasota

City of Sarasota
55,364 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Pluris-South Gate Utilities
15,897 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
PFOA detected
Sun Outdoors Sarasota Water System
3,800 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Camelot Lakes Water System
1,700 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Lake Tippecanoe Water System
361 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Windward Isle MHP Water System
321 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Bradenton 11 mi Manatee County Utilities Dept	Manatee County Utilities Dept	None above limits	1.7 ppb
Venice 17 mi City of Venice Water Dept	City of Venice Water Dept	None above limits	0.3 ppb
North Port 29 mi North Port Utilities	North Port Utilities	None above limits	3.4 ppb
Pinellas Park 37 mi Pinellas Park Water Dept	Pinellas Park Water Dept	None above limits	–
Tampa 44 mi City of Tampa Water Department	City of Tampa Water Department	Above limit	1.5 ppb
Clearwater 46 mi Pinellas County Utilities	Pinellas County Utilities	None above limits	–

Questions

Is Sarasota tap water safe to drink?

Sarasota County Special Utilities District 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 Sarasota, FL?

7 public water systems serve parts of Sarasota. The largest is Sarasota County Special Utilities District (272,267 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Sarasota tap water have PFAS?

Sarasota County Special Utilities District had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Sarasota homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 58% of Sarasota 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. Sarasota County Special Utilities District'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.