Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL
HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 515,012 residents in LITHIA, Florida using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 813-612-7761.
Is LITHIA tap water safe to drink?
HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 515,012 residents in LITHIA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Bromate, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Trichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromoform, Nitrate, Chlorate. 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 LITHIA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 8.1 ppb, 135x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 11.6 ppb, 78x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 6.05 ppb, 61x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL
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 LITHIA
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.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 61/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
8.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 135× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.05 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.62 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.72 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 30× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
2.32 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 23× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.45 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.57 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.41 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 8.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.28 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 7.6× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.764 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0876 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.48 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.296 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
213.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.56 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0163 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.771 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
19.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.478 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.368 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
5.65 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.492 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.36 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.19 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
1.09 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.626 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.
HCWRD/SOUTH-CENTRAL 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 LITHIA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.