Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PENSACOLA, Florida
Tap water in PENSACOLA, Florida receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PENSACOLA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PENSACOLA.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 4.37 ppt, 4370x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected at 4.64 ppt, 52x above the EWG health guideline of 0.09 ppt.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.00714 ppb.
Recommended filters for PENSACOLA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PENSACOLA's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in PENSACOLA's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.64 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.56 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.37 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4370× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.548 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.45 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.62 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.626 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.166 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.3× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
5.02 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.0× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
0.738 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.5 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.5× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.197 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.00714 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1.8× over |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.278 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0513 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| 4:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (4:2 FTSA) Other |
0.141 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.53 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
49.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
27.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Beryllium Heavy metal |
0.0179 ppb | 1.0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.291 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.0107 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
5.37 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
4.46 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.00357 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.144 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.83 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.754 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00175 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0238 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0824 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.3 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
0.786 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.523 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA).