Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT
CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded D (59/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 733,886 residents in TAMPA, Florida using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 813-231-1395.
Is TAMPA tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 733,886 residents in TAMPA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Arsenic, Bromate, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Bromoform, Uranium. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID FL6290327) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for TAMPA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.69 ppt, 1686x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 15.3 ppb, 254x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 14.5 ppb, 145x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.1 ppb.
Contact CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for TAMPA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 59/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1686× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
15.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 254× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
14.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
14.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 97× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.66 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.89 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.71 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.1 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 25× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
2.54 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.47 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.85 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.66 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.29 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.87 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 13× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.3 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.0× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0769 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.347 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.774 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.46 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.1× over |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.86 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.14 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
13.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
6.94 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.03 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.397 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.47 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0581 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
4.61 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.557 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.205 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.693 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Hillsborough County, Florida. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for TAMPA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.