Water Quality in Fort Lauderdale, FL: 630 Violations - Grade N/A
18 water systems · 27 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 630 violations across 27 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Fort Lauderdale. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Fort Lauderdale
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33309 | 258 | 1 | View report → |
| 33311 | 218 | 5 | View report → |
| 33314 | 190 | 0 | View report → |
| 33317 | 182 | 0 | View report → |
| 33312 | 171 | 0 | View report → |
| 33316 | 167 | 1 | View report → |
| 33319 | 161 | 5 | View report → |
| 33313 | 156 | 5 | View report → |
| 33331 | 152 | 1 | View report → |
| 33334 | 132 | 0 | View report → |
| 33330 | 129 | 1 | View report → |
| 33351 | 121 | 4 | View report → |
| 33315 | 120 | 1 | View report → |
| 33305 | 115 | 0 | View report → |
| 33306 | 115 | 0 | View report → |
Violation Trend
EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Fort Lauderdale.
| Year | Total violations | Health-based |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 |
Water Quality Overview
Fort Lauderdale, Florida has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 27 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 630 violations, including 7 health-based violations across 27 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average 90th percentile lead level across Fort Lauderdale water systems is 0.0061 mg/L - within EPA limits. No exceedances appear among the 27 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 58% of homes built before 1986, Fort Lauderdale has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is served by 18 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These systems collectively serve approximately 849,882 people across 47 ZIP codes.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
The EPA has taken 254 enforcement actions against water systems serving Fort Lauderdale. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Fort Lauderdale
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Fort Lauderdale Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Fort Lauderdale's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | N/A | 1029 | 22 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 344 | 27 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 330 | 27 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 116 | 25 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 0.015 mg/L | 97 | 26 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 44 | 26 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 4 | 2 | Yes |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA enforceable standard). Health-based violations indicate levels that may pose direct health risks.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Fort Lauderdale:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 |
Violations have decreased from 4 in 2022 to 2 in 2025, indicating improving compliance.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken 42 enforcement actions against water systems serving Fort Lauderdale. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-09-04 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-08-31 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-08-27 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-08-14 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-04-18 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-03-06 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-02-28 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-02-27 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-02-17 | State Order Extension |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-06.
Fort Lauderdale vs. Nearby Florida Cities
How Fort Lauderdale's water quality compares to similar cities in Florida:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | 27 | 630 | 18 | 849,882 |
| Tampa | 27 | 26 | 21 | 826,077 |
| Jacksonville | 32 | 35 | 13 | 945,632 |
| Orlando | 33 | 130 | 20 | 1,072,954 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Fort Lauderdale
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Fort Lauderdale's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 33309 | 258 | 1 |
| 33311 | 218 | 5 |
| 33314 | 190 | 0 |
| 33317 | 182 | 0 |
| 33312 | 171 | 0 |
| 33316 | 167 | 1 |
| 33319 | 161 | 5 |
| 33313 | 156 | 5 |
| 33331 | 152 | 1 |
| 33334 | 132 | 0 |
| 33330 | 129 | 1 |
| 33351 | 121 | 4 |
| 33315 | 120 | 1 |
| 33305 | 115 | 0 |
| 33306 | 115 | 0 |
Common Questions About Fort Lauderdale Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
Is Fort Lauderdale water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Fort Lauderdale's 18 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Fort Lauderdale tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 7 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Fort Lauderdale? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Fort Lauderdale vs. Florida Average
Understanding how Fort Lauderdale compares to the broader Florida average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Fort Lauderdale.
ZIP Codes in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale spans 47 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 27 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.