Okeechobee Utility Authority
EPA ID: FL4470257 · 20,000 people served · 3 ZIP codes
Okeechobee Utility Authority shows 72 open EPA violations in current federal records for approximately 20,000 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Okeechobee Utility Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The Okeechobee Utility Authority serves a community with a median household income of $52,287 and an estimated 43,179 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 100% 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?
Okeechobee Utility Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Okeechobee 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
Detected Contaminants
How Okeechobee Utility Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 4 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.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 41 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 38 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 12 detections recorded.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
Okeechobee Utility Authority (EPA ID: FL4470257) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 20,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 1 community.
Average Home Safety Score: A (88/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Lead | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Lead | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 41 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 38 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 5 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 4 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34972 | 0.0054 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 34973 | 0.0054 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 34974 | 0.0054 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: 2 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 Okeechobee Utility Authority (FL4470257) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okeechobee Utility Authority water safe to drink?
Okeechobee Utility Authority has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Okeechobee Utility Authority serve?
Okeechobee Utility Authority serves approximately 20,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in Florida.
Where does Okeechobee Utility Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below 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 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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- HIGH SOURCE WATER SUSCEPTIBILITY: ~250 potential contamination sources in Lake Okeechobee assessment area including petroleum storage tanks, industrial/domestic wastewater, waste cleanup sites, solid waste, hazardous waste, Superfund site, and injection wells.
- Treatment: coagulation, filtration, ozonation, and chloramines disinfection. Transitioned from groundwater (2016); groundwater plant now used as storage/repump station.
- Spanish language notice included in CCR.
- LSLI submitted to FDEP 10/15/2024.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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
Okeechobee Utility Authority (EPA ID: FL4470257) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.