Health Violations Found FL 6 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

City of Apalachicola

EPA ID: FL1190150 · 5,235 people served · 4 ZIP codes

In the current EPA monitoring period, City of Apalachicola has 5 violations still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 5,235 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 76
Avg Safety Score
5,235
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
16
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.003 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
4
Contaminants Flagged
$338K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 12 (2021) to 1 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Apalachicola Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$67,833
Median Household Income
14,781
Service Area Population
84%
Disadvantaged Population
73th
Poverty Percentile
83th
Energy Burden Percentile
45%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Apalachicola serves a community with a median household income of $67,833 and an estimated 14,781 residents across its service area. Approximately 45% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 84% 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?

Groundwater

City of Apalachicola'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
22th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Franklin County, Florida rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

36 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 53% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Apalachicola compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 9 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Lead 2 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Lead at 2 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Coliform at 3 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 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. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Florida

C 15 violations
0 violations
0 violations
B 10 violations
B 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,675
Water Filtration $300
PFAS Treatment $125
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $16,905

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$16,120
10 years
$32,240
20 years
$64,480

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,100 (one-time) vs. $32,240 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Apalachicola, (EPA ID: FL1190150) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 5,235 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

6 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 5 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
May 1, 2024 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
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
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 9 Yes
Total Coliform Microbiological 3 No
Lead Inorganic 2 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 No

Health Risk Details

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)

Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
32320 0.003 mg/L No N/A
32329 0.003 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Apalachicola (FL1190150) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Apalachicola water safe to drink?

City of Apalachicola has recorded 6 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does City of Apalachicola serve?

City of Apalachicola serves approximately 5,235 people across 4 ZIP codes in Florida.

Where does City of Apalachicola get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
2,173
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 5,235
Reported to Florida

Source: FDEP PWS Lead Service Line Inventories (LSLI) · Submitted 2024

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Apalachicola safe to drink?
City of Apalachicola earns a B safety grade with 16 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Apalachicola's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Lead, Total Coliform, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Apalachicola serve?
City of Apalachicola serves approximately 5,235 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is City of Apalachicola's water source?
City of Apalachicola draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Apalachicola's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.003 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Apalachicola's service area?
The City of Apalachicola service area has a median household income of $67,833. EPA EJScreen data classifies 84% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Apalachicola get its water?
City of Apalachicola'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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Apalachicola (EPA ID: FL1190150) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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