Fort Walton Beach, FL: 18 Violations — 70/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Looking at federal monitoring data for Fort Walton Beach, FL: the city clears benchmarks set under the Safe Drinking Water Act with room to spare — recorded exceedances are rare, and the systems serving local households have not triggered any pattern of repeat deficiencies in recent cycles.
How Fort Walton Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Fort Walton Beach Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 18 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0026 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 57% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.02 — above typical levels.
Fort Walton Beach's Water Providers
Fort Walton Beach, FL is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 4 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Fort Walton Beach, Florida (population ~58,731), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 126,013 people region-wide.
3 of 3 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fort Walton Beach: B (70/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Fort Walton Beach water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0026 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 12 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 12 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32547 | C | 6 | 0 | Okaloosa Company.wtr.; Swr.system |
| 32548 | C | 6 | 0 | Okaloosa Company.wtr.; Swr.system |
| 32549 | B | 6 | 0 | Okaloosa Company.wtr.; Swr.system |
All ZIP Codes in Fort Walton Beach
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
Updated daily.
Fort Walton Beach Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Fort Walton Beach's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Fort Walton Beach Infrastructure Age
With 57% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Because the majority of Fort Walton Beach's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1978 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Fort Walton Beach were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Fort Walton Beach
Equity impact data for Fort Walton Beach lands in the favorable tier — remediation claims a small slice of what properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Fort Walton Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,067–$2,267 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 11% below the Florida average.
Fort Walton Beach: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older stock in Fort Walton Beach represents 57% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level — making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Fort Walton Beach: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
Unlike communities where NFIP data shows minimal flood history, Fort Walton Beach's record documents 2765 claims and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA flood zones — a combination that moves flood-related water quality risk from the background into the foreground of any complete local water assessment. Flooding can overwhelm treatment capacity, contaminate wells, and trigger distribution backflow; at this level of exposure, those mechanisms have likely been activated during significant flood events.
Fort Walton Beach has a significant flood history with 2,765 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $29,113 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,600</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fort Walton Beach, FL