Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Tampa, FL tap water
18 contaminants were measured in the Tampa, FL water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 18
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Chloramine
- Service area
- FL
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Tampa, 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.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.7×)PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.1×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Tampa, FL's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 36 sources.
Source
- MORRIS BRIDGE · 20
- ASR · 8
- MORRIS BRIDGE SINK · 2
- BLUE SINK · 2
- + 4 more
Treatment
- DAVID L TIPPIN WATER PLANT
- MORRIS BRIDGE REPUMP STATION
Distribution
Also buys water from TAMPA BAY WATER MORRIS BRIDGE PUMP STATI, TAMPA BAY WATER REG. SURFACE WATER PLANT.
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.
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 0.2–5.6 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | At or above the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0.905–8.16 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Approaching the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 8.7–32.45 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 8.34–35.33 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.36 NTUHighest single sampleThe Highest Single Measurement | None set | Within the limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.4 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.277 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. | 1.81 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.013 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 46 mg/LRangeSystem-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. | 0.62 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.3 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.6 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 1.6 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
People also ask about Tampa, FL's water
+Is Tampa, FL tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Tampa, FL water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Chloramine. 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 Tampa, FL tap water?
18 contaminants were measured in Tampa, FL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and disinfection byproducts. 10 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 Tampa, FL tap water?
One contaminant in Tampa, FL's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Chloramine (1.4× 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 Tampa, FL tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Chloramine, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfectants family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Tampa, FL tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Bromate. 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa, 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.