Is Tampa, FL tap water safe?

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

City of Tampa Water Department, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

40 public water systems serve parts of Tampa. The largest, City of Tampa Water Department, serves 733,886 people, and 4 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Tampa Water Department

733,886 people · Surface water · EPA ID FL6290327

Buys treated water from Tampa Bay Water Reg. Surface Water Plant, Tampa Bay Water Morris Bridge Pump Stati.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA One sample above limit	2.25 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFOS Above limit	5.68 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	2.95 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
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.

For context: the PFOS average is higher than at 72% of the Florida systems EPA tested.

Lead: 1.5 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full City of Tampa Water Department 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.

Tampa homes and lead pipes

45%

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

13%

built before 1950 (Florida 4%)

50%

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. City of Tampa Water Department publishes a service line inventory you can search by address. Look up your address. 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 Tampa 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 Tampa
City of Tampa Water Department 733,886 people	33602, 33603, 33604, 33605, 33606, 33607, 33609, 33610, 33611, 33612, 33614, 33616, 33621, 33629, 33647
Hillsborough County Water Resources – Northwest Utilities 208,982 people	33617
University of South Florida Water System 47,586 people	33620

Other water systems serving Tampa

Hillsborough County Water Resources – Northwest Utilities
208,982 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
University of South Florida Water System
47,586 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS detected
Hillsborough County Water Resources – Seaboard Utilities
13,958 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: PFOA detected · PFHxS detected
Fgua / Macdill Water System
11,965 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations · PFHxS detected
Hillsborough County Water Resources – Pebble Creek Subdivision
4,757 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
PFOA detectedAlso: PFOS detected · PFHxS detected
Paradise Village Water System
2,456 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

33 more systems

Hillsborough County Water Resources – Eastlake
2,074 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cypress Cay Preserve Master Association
1,500 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ayla Apartments Water System
1,344 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Casa Verde Manufactured Home Community Water System
1,250 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hillsborough County Water Resources – Hershel Heights
812 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cax-Lakeshore LLC
590 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Promenade Subdivision
200 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Village Centre Townhomes Water System
180 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
42nd Street Apartments Water System
160 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hidden Oaks MHP
135 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Highland Oaks Mhc Water System
132 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Chalet Village MHP
130 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hope Children's Home Water System
114 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
McN Mobile Home Park Water System
95 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ray Mar MHP
89 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hillsborough County Water Resources – Fairview MHP
86 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Carousel Village MHP
82 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hilltop MHP
82 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
The Woodlands on Clay Water System
75 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hi Pines Mobile Home Park Water System
72 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
On the Park Townhomes Water System
65 people · Purchased surface water · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Flying Cloud Tp Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
La Casa Mia Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Countryside Village Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ashley Oaks Mobile Home Park Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Regency Oaks Water System
58 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Springtree Apts Water System
52 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Oakwood Ct Apts Water System
52 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Tampa Sun Estates 4 Water System
50 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Gross alpha violations
Terrace Square Apts Water System
45 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sherwood MHP West
45 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Whispering Pines Park Water System
44 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Garden Springs MHP
40 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Temple Terrace 8 mi City of Temple Terrace Utility	City of Temple Terrace Utility	Above limit	0 ppb
Pinellas Park 16 mi Pinellas Park Water Dept	Pinellas Park Water Dept	None above limits	–
Clearwater 18 mi Pinellas County Utilities	Pinellas County Utilities	None above limits	–
Dunedin 21 mi Dunedin Water System	Dunedin Water System	None above limits	1.5 ppb
Plant City 22 mi City of Plant City Utility	City of Plant City Utility	None above limits	1 ppb
Tarpon Springs 22 mi Tarpon Springs Water System	Tarpon Springs Water System	Above limit	1.6 ppb

Questions

Is Tampa tap water safe to drink?

City of Tampa Water Department has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. 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 Tampa, FL?

40 public water systems serve parts of Tampa. The largest is City of Tampa Water Department (733,886 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Tampa tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOS at City of Tampa Water Department. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Tampa homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 45% of Tampa 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. City of Tampa Water Department'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.