Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT
WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded D (59/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 87,537 residents in WINTER HAVEN, Florida using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 863-291-5851.
Is WINTER HAVEN tap water safe to drink?
WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 87,537 residents in WINTER HAVEN, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID FL6531992) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Water Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 05/01/2023 | Open |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed reporting | 10/01/2023 | Open |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed testing | 04/01/2023 | 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 WINTER HAVEN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 47.7 ppb, 795x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.667 ppt, 667x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 57.4 ppb, 383x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.189 ppb.
Contact WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT
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 WINTER HAVEN
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 59/100 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 |
47.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 795× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.667 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 667× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
57.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 383× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
26.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 266× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.189 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 47× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.64 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.644 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.2 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
700.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0142 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.047 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
11.7 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.588 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
15.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.92 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.833 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.506 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.137 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.611 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.
WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Polk County, Florida. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WINTER HAVEN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.