Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua)
EPA ID: FL1170525 · 242,172 people served · 28 ZIP codes
While corrective steps may be in progress, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) currently shows 8 EPA violations unresolved — serving a population of approximately 242,172.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) serves a community with a median household income of $67,548 and an estimated 315,309 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 41% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua)'s water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
About 1% of homes in Escambia County, Florida rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 76th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Coliform at 4 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 160 detections recorded. 64 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 34 exceed state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Florida
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) (EPA ID: FL1170525) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 242,172 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 28 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 4 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32501 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32502 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32503 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32504 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32505 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32506 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32507 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32508 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32509 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32511 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32512 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32513 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32514 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32516 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32520 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32521 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32522 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32523 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32524 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 32526 | 0.0006 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 15 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 13 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 32501 — Pensacola
- 32502 — Pensacola
- 32503 — Pensacola
- 32504 — Pensacola
- 32505 — Pensacola
- 32506 — Pensacola
- 32507 — Pensacola
- 32508 — Pensacola
- 32509 — Pensacola
- 32511 — Pensacola
- 32512 — Pensacola
- 32513 — Pensacola
- 32514 — Pensacola
- 32516 — Pensacola
- 32520 — Pensacola
- 32521 — Pensacola
- 32522 — Pensacola
- 32523 — Pensacola
- 32524 — Pensacola
- 32526 — Pensacola
- 32533 — Cantonment
- 32534 — Pensacola
- 32559 — Pensacola
- 32560 — Gonzalez
- 32561 — Gulf Breeze
- 32590 — Pensacola
- 32591 — Pensacola
- 32592 — Pensacola
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) (FL1170525) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) water safe to drink?
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) serve?
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) serves approximately 242,172 people across 28 ZIP codes in Florida.
Where does Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: FDEP PWS Lead Service Line Inventories (LSLI) · Submitted 2025
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #28 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Florida)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) (EPA ID: FL1170525) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.