Water System Report FL

City of Tampa Water Department

EPA ID: FL6290327 ยท 733,886 people served ยท 26 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Tampa Water Department (FL6290327): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Even as other utilities in the region logged violations, City of Tampa Water Department kept a clean EPA record - five years, no issues, 733,886 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 68
Avg Safety Score
733,886
People Served
26
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0015 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$314K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$67,795
Median Household Income
865,692
Service Area Population
39%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
52%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Tampa Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $67,795 and an estimated 865,692 residents across its service area. Approximately 52% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 39% 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.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Tampa Water Department'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
45th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
75th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 75th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 62% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 154 detections recorded. 37 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 37 exceed state limits.

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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Florida

B 4 violations
Jea Major Grid
826,664 people
A 2 violations
A 1 violation
Hcwrd/south-central
515,012 people
C 0 violations
Pinellas County Utilities
506,353 people
A 14 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,977
PFAS Treatment $477
Radon Mitigation $77
Water Filtration $12
Total Estimated Cost $2,542

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,542 (one-time) vs. $330 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 Tampa Water Department (EPA ID: FL6290327) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 733,886 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 26 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (68/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 16 of 26 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

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0015 mg/L No N/A

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

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Tampa Water Department (FL6290327) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Tampa Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for City of Tampa Water Department 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 City of Tampa Water Department serve?

City of Tampa Water Department serves approximately 733,886 people across 26 ZIP codes in Florida.

Where does City of Tampa Water Department 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.

Samples collected
232
Detections
38
Latest sample
9/11/2025
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 8.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 8.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOS 6.9 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 6.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBA 6.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOA 4.6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal 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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Tampa Water Department safe to drink?
City of Tampa Water Department has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Tampa Water Department meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Tampa Water Department serve?
City of Tampa Water Department serves approximately 733,886 people with drinking water across 26 ZIP codes.
What is City of Tampa Water Department's water source?
City of Tampa Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Tampa Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0015 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Tampa Water Department's service area?
The City of Tampa Water Department service area has a median household income of $67,795. EPA EJScreen data classifies 39% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Tampa Water Department get its water?
City of Tampa Water Department'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Tampa Water Department, FL: Serves 734K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/fl6290327/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-fl6290327,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Tampa Water Department, FL: Serves 734K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/fl6290327/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

City of Tampa Water Department (EPA ID: FL6290327) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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