Is West Palm Beach, FL tap water safe?

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

Palm Beach County Water Utilities, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, 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.

4 public water systems serve parts of West Palm Beach. The largest, Palm Beach County Water Utilities, serves 671,114 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Palm Beach County Water Utilities

671,114 people · Groundwater · EPA ID FL4504393

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	8.15 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	19 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	6.3 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 PFOA average is higher than at 92% of the Florida systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 90% of the Florida systems EPA tested.

Lead: 1.4 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: 1

Full Palm Beach County Water 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.

West Palm Beach homes and lead pipes

38%

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

12%

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. 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 West Palm Beach city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach Water Treatment Plant
132,000 people · Surface water · Florida · lists this city
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations
Palm Beach County System 11
31,789 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
McCartney Mobile Estates MHP 1
25 people · Groundwater · Ohio · reported ZIPs here
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Riviera Beach 4 mi City of Riviera Beach Utility District	City of Riviera Beach Utility District	Above limit	2.4 ppb
Palm Beach Gardens 8 mi Seacoast Utilities Authority	Seacoast Utilities Authority	None above limits	1.6 ppb
Palm Springs 8 mi Village of Palm Springs	Village of Palm Springs	Above limit	0.9 ppb
Lake Worth Beach 10 mi Lake Worth Beach Utilities	Lake Worth Beach Utilities	Above limit	1.3 ppb
Wellington 11 mi Wellington Water Treatment Plant	Wellington Water Treatment Plant	None above limits	1.7 ppb
Jupiter 12 mi Town of Jupiter Public Water System	Town of Jupiter Public Water System	None above limits	0.9 ppb

West Palm Beach ZIP codes (6)

33401
33405
33407
33409
33412
33417

Questions

Is West Palm Beach tap water safe to drink?

Palm Beach County Water Utilities had 1 health-based violation 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 West Palm Beach, FL?

4 public water systems serve parts of West Palm Beach. The largest is Palm Beach County Water Utilities (671,114 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does West Palm Beach tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Palm Beach County Water Utilities. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do West Palm Beach homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 38% of West Palm Beach 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. Palm Beach County Water 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.