Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Tampa, Florida
Tap water in Tampa, Florida receives a grade of D (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily HCWRC/NORTHWEST UTILITIES. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Tampa's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Tampa.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 18.4 ppb, 307x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 22.1 ppb, 221x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 31.9 ppb, 213x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for HCWRC/NORTHWEST UTILITIES (system ID FL6290388) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2003 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Water systems serving Tampa
Tampa is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
HCWRC/NORTHWEST UTILITIES
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT
- PFAS contamination
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Tampa
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Tampa's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 Tampa'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1686× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 307× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
22.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 221× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 213× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.14 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.66 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
26.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.89 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.65 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× 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 |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.87 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 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 |
| 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 |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
253.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× 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 |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.183 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.09 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
14.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.98 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.312 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
6.94 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.03 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.47 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
4.61 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.0875 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.557 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.305 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.693 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0055 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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 HCWRC/NORTHWEST UTILITIES.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Tampa's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: