Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF
FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (60/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 185,163 residents in FT LAUDERDALE, Florida using groundwater. 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 954-828-7865.
Is FT LAUDERDALE tap water safe to drink?
FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (60/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 185,163 residents in FT LAUDERDALE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Arsenic, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA), Chromium (hexavalent). 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 FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF (system ID FL4060486) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed reporting | 06/01/2019 | Open |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed testing | 06/01/2023 | Open |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2023 | Open |
| Nitrate Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2021 | Open |
| Ground Water Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 08/01/2019 | Open |
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 FT LAUDERDALE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF.
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 1.07 ppt, 1067x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 39.8 ppb, 664x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 25.6 ppb, 256x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.75 ppb.
Contact FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF
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 FT LAUDERDALE
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 60/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.07 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1067× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
39.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 664× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 256× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 201× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.75 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 188× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.63 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 18× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.82 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
4.33 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0744 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
116.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.15 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.22 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.00787 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
2.15 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.63 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.47 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.43 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.0 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0875 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.183 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.275 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.656 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0745 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
FORT LAUDERDALE, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Broward County, Florida. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FT LAUDERDALE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.