Health Violations Found FL 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Wauchula City Water Department

EPA ID: FL6250329 · 5,000 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Pulled from the federal compliance ledger, 11 violations at Wauchula City Water Department remain without resolution — the utility delivers drinking water to roughly 5,000 residents.

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

B · 81
Avg Safety Score
5,000
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
26
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
7
Contaminants Flagged
$116K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Wauchula City Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$58,364
Median Household Income
20,689
Service Area Population
83%
Disadvantaged Population
90th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
45%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Wauchula City Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $58,364 and an estimated 20,689 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: 83% 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

Wauchula City Water Department'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
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Hardee County, Florida rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

37 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
31 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 54% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Wauchula City Water Department compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Lead at 1 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 Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 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 11 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Coliform at 9 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Florida

East Water System
5,052 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
B 4 violations
B 11 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,833
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $1,933

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 Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,500
10 years
$15,000
20 years
$30,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,933 (one-time) vs. $15,000 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

WAUCHULA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT (EPA ID: FL6250329) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 5,000 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: B (81/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 11 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
February 1, 2025 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
February 1, 2025 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2024 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2024 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
August 1, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 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 11 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 9 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Lead Inorganic 1 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 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
33873 0.001 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: 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 Wauchula City Water Department (FL6250329) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wauchula City Water Department water safe to drink?

Wauchula City Water Department 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 Wauchula City Water Department serve?

Wauchula City Water Department serves approximately 5,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in Florida.

Where does Wauchula City Water Department 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
537
Unknown Material
2,265
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: 5,000
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 →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Wauchula City Water Department safe to drink?
Wauchula City Water Department earns a B safety grade with 26 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Wauchula City Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Total Coliform. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 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 Wauchula City Water Department serve?
Wauchula City Water Department serves approximately 5,000 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Wauchula City Water Department's water source?
Wauchula City Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Wauchula City Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Wauchula City Water Department's service area?
The Wauchula City Water Department service area has a median household income of $58,364. EPA EJScreen data classifies 83% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Wauchula City Water Department get its water?
Wauchula City Water Department'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

Wauchula City Water Department (EPA ID: FL6250329) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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