Winter Haven Water Department
EPA ID: FL6531992 · 87,537 people served · 15 ZIP codes
Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Winter Haven Water Department shows 63 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 87,537.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 17 (2021) to 13 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Winter Haven Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Winter Haven Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $60,426 and an estimated 277,685 residents across its service area. Approximately 50% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 55% 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?
Winter Haven 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.
About 1% of homes in Polk 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 Winter Haven Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 90 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
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 Coliform at 65 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 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 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 22 detections recorded. 9 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 9 exceed state limits.
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
Winter Haven Water Department (EPA ID: FL6531992) is a community water system in Florida that serves approximately 87,537 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 15 ZIP codes across 9 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)
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 |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 90 | Yes |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 65 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 9 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33880 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33881 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33882 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33883 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33884 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33885 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 33888 | 0.007 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: 11 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 4 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.
- 33823 — Auburndale
- 33830 — Bartow
- 33838 — Dundee
- 33839 — Eagle Lake
- 33841 — Fort Meade
- 33844 — Haines City
- 33850 — Lake Alfred
- 33859 — Lake Wales
- 33880 — Winter Haven
- 33881 — Winter Haven
- 33882 — Winter Haven
- 33883 — Winter Haven
- 33884 — Winter Haven
- 33885 — Winter Haven
- 33888 — Winter Haven
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Winter Haven Water Department (FL6531992) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Winter Haven Water Department water safe to drink?
Winter Haven Water Department has recorded 2 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 Winter Haven Water Department serve?
Winter Haven Water Department serves approximately 87,537 people across 15 ZIP codes in Florida.
Where does Winter Haven Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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:
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.
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
Winter Haven Water Department (EPA ID: FL6531992) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.