Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, CITY OF
TALLAHASSEE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (63/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 200,480 residents in TALLAHASSEE, Florida using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 850-891-5271.
Is TALLAHASSEE tap water safe to drink?
TALLAHASSEE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 200,480 residents in TALLAHASSEE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Nitrate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Uranium, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). 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 TALLAHASSEE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TALLAHASSEE, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 0.146 ppt, 146x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.404 ppb, 101x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 3.09 ppb, 51x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact TALLAHASSEE, 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 TALLAHASSEE
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.
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 63/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.146 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 146× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.404 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 101× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
3.09 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.86 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
6.24 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.09 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.591 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.8× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.281 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.09 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.47 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.319 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.1× over |
| Vanadium Other |
3.82 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.36 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.843 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
13.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
2.82 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
7.57 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.00769 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0846 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.067 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0443 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.658 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
1.47 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.657 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
2.47e-05 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.
TALLAHASSEE, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Leon County, Florida. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for TALLAHASSEE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.