Is Winter Haven, FL tap water safe?

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

Winter Haven Water Department, 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.

19 public water systems serve parts of Winter Haven. The largest, Winter Haven Water Department, serves 87,537 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Winter Haven Water Department

87,537 people · Groundwater · EPA ID FL6531992

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	5.8 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	5.5 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	4.35 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 87% of the Florida systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 71% of the Florida systems EPA tested.

Lead: 7 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 Winter Haven 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.

Winter Haven homes and lead pipes

34%

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

built before 1950 (Florida 4%)

36%

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 Winter Haven city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Winter Haven

Central Water System
13,595 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Wahneta Water System
4,500 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Swiss Golf ; Tennis Club Water System
1,900 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Four Lakes Golf Club Water System
1,600 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Swiss Village MHP
1,410 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Carefree Country Club, Inc.
784 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

12 more systems

Orchid Springs Water System
750 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Orange Hill – Sugar Creek Water System
647 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Winter Haven Manufactured Home Community Water System
476 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Lakeside Ranch Investment Corp Water System
325 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hammondell Campsites Water System
275 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cypress Gardens M.H. ; R.V. Park Water System
250 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hidden Cove MHP
240 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Fairview Village Water System
155 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Grove Shores Mobile Home Community Water System
100 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cypress Acres Mobile Home Park Water System
78 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Arrow Lee Apartments Water System
70 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Winterset MHP LLC
51 people · Groundwater · Florida · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Haines City 8 mi City of Haines City	City of Haines City	None above limits	1 ppb
Lakeland 14 mi City of Lakeland	City of Lakeland	None above limits	0.6 ppb
Plant City 24 mi City of Plant City Utility	City of Plant City Utility	None above limits	1 ppb
Kissimmee 26 mi Toho Water Authority Eastern	Toho Water Authority Eastern	None above limits	0.6 ppb
St. Cloud 31 mi City of St. Cloud	City of St. Cloud	None above limits	2.1 ppb
Clermont 34 mi Clermont East Water System	Clermont East Water System	None above limits	0 ppb

Winter Haven ZIP codes (2)

33881
33884

Questions

Is Winter Haven tap water safe to drink?

Winter Haven Water Department 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 Winter Haven, FL?

19 public water systems serve parts of Winter Haven. The largest is Winter Haven Water Department (87,537 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Winter Haven tap water have PFAS?

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

Do Winter Haven homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 34% of Winter Haven 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. Winter Haven 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.