Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA)
EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA) delivers tap water graded F (52/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 242,172 residents in PENSACOLA, Florida using groundwater. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 850-969-3373.
Is PENSACOLA tap water safe to drink?
EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA) delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 242,172 residents in PENSACOLA, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Nitrate, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Uranium, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Arsenic. 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.
Quick actions for PENSACOLA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA).
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.
Contact EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA)
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 PENSACOLA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 52/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA) service area
This water system serves 1 community in Escambia County, Florida. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PENSACOLA water
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