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 — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 18
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Perfluoropentanoic acid
- Service area
- FL
- Perfluoropentanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average0.0075 ug/Llimit 0.003 ug/L · 2.5× the limit
- Perfluorohexanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average0.0056 ug/Llimit 0.003 ug/L · 1.9× the limit
- ChlorineDisinfectants · Range0.2–5.6 mg/Llimit 4 mg/L · 1.4× the limit
- Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average0.0037 ug/Llimit 0.003 ug/L · 1.2× the limit
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×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.1×)below national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitbelow national p90 (12.049999999999997 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (9.309999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
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.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
16 historically-detected contaminants in Tampa, FL
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2017 | 0.0445 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2018 | 0.0339 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRITE worst: 2013 | 0.25 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '13 |
ARSENIC worst: 2012 | 0.0024 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'18'19 |
GROSS ALPHA worst: 2017 | 3 pCi/L within | 15 pCi/L | '17 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2016 | 0.77 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
SELENIUM worst: 2012 | 0.0066 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16 |
ANTIMONY worst: 2012 | 0.0004 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.006 mg/L | '12'18 |
CADMIUM worst: 2018 | 0.0003 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.005 mg/L | '18 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2012 | 0.0055 mg/L within near national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17 |
THALLIUM worst: 2018 | 0.0001 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '18 |
NITRATE worst: 2015 | 0.41 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CYANIDE worst: 2014 | 0.0035 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.2 mg/L | '14 |
BARIUM worst: 2012 | 0.015 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2014 | 0.051 mg/L below national p90 | — | '14'17 |
LEAD worst: 2012 | 0.0003 mg/L | — | '12 |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.2–5.6 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | At or above the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 46 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 160 mg/LMCL | Within 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 | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.36 NTUHighest single sampleThe Highest Single Measurement | None set | Detected — no federal 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 | Detected — no federal 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 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Perfluoropentanoic acid, Perfluorohexanoic acid, Chlorine, and Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. 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. 16 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?
4 contaminants in Tampa, FL's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Perfluoropentanoic acid (2.5× the limit); Perfluorohexanoic acid (1.9× the limit); Chlorine (1.4× the limit); Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (1.2× 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 Perfluoropentanoic acid, at 2.5× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+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.