Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in St Petersburg, FL tap water
19 contaminants were measured in the St Petersburg, FL water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 19
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- Gross Alpha
- Service area
- FL
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in St Petersburg, FL
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
St Petersburg, FL's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 43 sources.
Source
- TAMPA BAY WATER ODESSA WELL · 23
- TAMPA BAY WATER SO. PASCO · 7
- TAMPA BAY WATER SECT 21 FIELD · 6
- TAMPA BAY WATER REG WELLFIELDS · 2
- + 5 more
Treatment
- COSME WATER TREATMENT PLANT
- WASHINGTON TERRACE PUMP
- OBERLY PUMP STATION
Distribution
Also buys water from PINELLAS COUNTY UTILITIES, TAMPA BAY WATER -CYPRESS CREEK, and 2 more.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–40 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 4 ug/LReported levelDates of Sampling | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 4 mg/LReported levelDates of Sampling | 2 mg/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | 4 ug/LReported levelDates of Sampling | None set | At or above the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.43 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 1.8 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 4 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 4 ug/LReported levelDates of Sampling | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 78.5 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 4 mg/LReported levelDates of Sampling | 4 mg/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.23 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 3.82 mg/LRunning annual avgLevel Detected Highest | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Approaching the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radium 226 228 | 4 pCi/LReported levelDates of Sampling | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Approaching the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 22.65 ug/LRunning annual avgLevel Detected Highest | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 22 ug/LRunning annual avgLevel Detected Highest | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0–2.51 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.32 NTUHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 3.7 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 1Reported levelSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about St Petersburg, FL's water
+Is St Petersburg, FL tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the St Petersburg, FL water utility lists 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Gross Alpha, Barium, Mercury, and Fluoride. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in St Petersburg, FL tap water?
19 contaminants were measured in St Petersburg, FL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. 11 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in St Petersburg, FL tap water?
4 contaminants in St Petersburg, FL's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Gross Alpha (2.7× the limit); Barium (2.0× the limit); Mercury (2.0× the limit); Fluoride (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in St Petersburg, FL tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Gross Alpha, at 2.7× the federal threshold. It belongs to the radionuclides family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in St Petersburg, FL tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloramine and Radium 226 228. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from St Petersburg, FL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is St Petersburg, FL's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.