University of South Florida
EPA ID: FL6291882 · 47,586 people served · 59 ZIP codes
Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, University of South Florida shows 13 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 47,586.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for University of South Florida Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The University of South Florida serves a community with a median household income of $74,518 and an estimated 826,077 residents across its service area. Approximately 51% 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.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
University of South Florida'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.
About 1% of homes in Hillsborough County, Florida rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How University of South Florida compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Coliform at 15 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 11 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 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. 161 detections recorded. 39 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 38 exceed state limits.
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
University of South Florida (EPA ID: FL6291882) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 47,586 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 59 ZIP codes across 1 community.
Average Home Safety Score: C (65/100)
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 |
| April 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 15 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 11 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33620 | 0.0007 mg/L | No | N/A |
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 $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: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 55 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 59 ZIP codes:
33601 · 33602 · 33603 · 33604 · 33605 33606 · 33607 · 33608 · 33609 · 33610 33611 · 33612 · 33613 · 33614 · 33615 33616 · 33617 · 33618 · 33619 · 33620 33621 · 33622 · 33623 · 33624 · 33625 33626 · 33629 · 33630 · 33631 · 33633 33634 · 33635 · 33637 · 33646 · 33647 33650 · 33655 · 33660 · 33661 · 33662 33663 · 33664 · 33672 · 33673 · 33674 33675 · 33677 · 33679 · 33680 · 33681 33682 · 33684 · 33685 · 33686 · 33687 33688 · 33689 · 33690 · 33694
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for University of South Florida (FL6291882) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of South Florida water safe to drink?
University of South Florida has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does University of South Florida serve?
University of South Florida serves approximately 47,586 people across 59 ZIP codes in Florida.
Where does University of South Florida get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from University of South Florida Water System Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: University of South Florida Water System Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
2024 FDEP assessment. Seven unique potential sources of contamination with low susceptibility level.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from University of South Florida Water System Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above 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 →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by University of South Florida Water System.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
No lead service lines, galvanized lines, or unknown-material lines. Determined via historical construction records and physical inspections.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
University of South Florida Water System
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
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.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from University of South Florida Water System Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
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.
- Secondary standard violations (Sulfate 460 ppm, TDS 710 ppm) from single-well individual test; combined 4-well sample compliant.
- PFAS detected via UCMR-5: PFOS 0.025 ppb, PFBS 0.013 ppb, PFHxS 0.012 ppb among others.
- Copper exceeded AL (1.3 ppm) at 1 of 30 tap sites in Sep 2023; 90th percentile did not exceed AL.
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.
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
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
University of South Florida (EPA ID: FL6291882) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.