Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua)
EPA ID: FL1170525 · 242,172 people served · 15 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) (FL1170525): a UCMR5 PFAS sample above the level of an EPA PFAS MCL, which takes effect in 2029; this is not a violation. Zero violations are listed in EPA monitoring data for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua); a count of records like this is not a water-quality test for the 242,172 residents it serves.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - average Home Safety grade of mapped ZIPs: B
Demographics of ZIP Codes Served
The ZIP codes associated with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) have a median household income of $67,601 and about 310,316 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies). Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: On average, 40% of census tracts in the counties mapped to this service area are designated disadvantaged by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST, 2022 version). 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 classified in EPA records as a groundwater source. 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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 72th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
PFAS in ZIP Codes This System Serves
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with the ZIP codes in this system's area. These results can come from other water systems serving the same ZIP codes; check the UCMR5 section for any results reported for this system. 146 detections recorded. 58 detections are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS), with compliance required from 2029.
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 15 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (82/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 11 of 15 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0006 mg/L | No | 2023-12-01 |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
15 of 15 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by FL or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 32501 - Pensacola
- 32502 - Pensacola
- 32503 - Pensacola
- 32504 - Pensacola
- 32505 - Pensacola
- 32506 - Pensacola
- 32507 - Pensacola
- 32509 - Pensacola
- 32511 - Pensacola
- 32512 - Pensacola
- 32514 - Pensacola
- 32526 - Pensacola
- 32533 - Cantonment
- 32534 - Pensacola
- 32561 - Gulf Breeze
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) (FL1170525) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.
How many people does Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) serve?
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) serves approximately 242,172 people across 15 ZIP codes in Florida.
Where does Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua) get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Sample Above an EPA MCL Value or State Standard
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS measurements were above the level of the EPA MCL for that compound (April 2024 rule, which takes effect in 2029) or above an applicable state drinking-water standard; a monitoring result above that level is not by itself a violation.
EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ecua): Serves 242K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/fl1170525/
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