Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in West Palm Beach?
Yes, West Palm Beach's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as West Palm Beach has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, West Palm Beach's water utility, West Palm Beach Wtp, had 4 health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for West Palm Beach was resolved on March 31, 2022. There has been an active violation for E. COLI since Sept. 1, 2011. This assessment is based on the West Palm Beach Wtp water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for West Palm Beach Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in West Palm Beach tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in West Palm Beach's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
West Palm Beach Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named West Palm Beach Wtp for West Palm Beach in Florida. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Jan. 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022, West Palm Beach had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: TTHM.
From Oct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021, West Palm Beach had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: TTHM.
From July 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021, West Palm Beach had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: TTHM.
From April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, West Palm Beach had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: TTHM.
For the compliance period beginning July 1, 2016, West Palm Beach had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Consumer Confidence Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: Consumer Confidence Rule, Consumer Confidence Rule.
For the compliance period beginning Sept. 1, 2011, West Palm Beach had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Source Water (GWR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Groundwater Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: E. COLI.
From Sept. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2011, West Palm Beach had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Failure to Conduct Assessment Monitoring which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Groundwater Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: E. COLI.
Is there Lead in West Palm Beach Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the West Palm Beach water system, West Palm Beach Wtp, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0024 mg/L of lead in West Palm Beach water. This is 16.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from West Palm Beach contained more lead.
While West Palm Beach water testing may have found 0.0024 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in West Palm Beach Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be no military bases near West Palm Beach with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if West Palm Beach has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
West Palm Beach SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
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| 01/01/2022 - 03/31/2022 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 10/01/2021 - 12/31/2021 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 07/01/2021 - 09/30/2021 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 04/01/2021 - 06/30/2021 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 07/01/2016 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting (72) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) | Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) | Other (400) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) |
| 07/01/2016 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting (72) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) | Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) | Other (400) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) |
| 09/01/2011 - | Unaddressed | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Source Water (GWR) (34) | Ground Water Rule (140) | E. COLI (3014) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
| 09/01/2011 - 09/30/2011 | Archived | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Failure to Conduct Assessment Monitoring (19) | Ground Water Rule (140) | E. COLI (3014) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
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| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
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| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
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| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
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For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
West Palm Beach Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 561-822-1300 |
| By Mail: | 401 CLEMATIS STREET, 4TH FLOOR WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 33401 |
Existing customers can login to their West Palm Beach Wtp account to pay their West Palm Beach water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your West Palm Beach Wtp bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your West Palm Beach water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your West Palm Beach water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in West Palm Beach means you will often need to put the water in your name with West Palm Beach Wtp. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in West Palm Beach means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with West Palm Beach Wtp. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.87 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in West Palm Beach, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
West Palm Beach Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from West Palm Beach's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
Where does our water come from?
Lake Mangonia
Grassy Waters Preserve
The City of West Palm Beach gets its water from rainfall captured and stored in a part of the Everglades Ecosystem known as the Grassy Waters Preserve. This system feeds and sustains Lake Mangonia and Clear Lake. On occasion in past years, the city has been able to supplement its water supply from Lake Okeechobee. The city has designed and implemented several innovative and
water from the Palm Beach County public water system (# 4504393) during 2020. |
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- Do not over water your lawn or add excess fertilizer, especially if you live near Lake Mangonia or Clear Lake.
- Water lawns in the early morning when temperatures are cooler.
- Plant natives versus exotics.
- Ensure sprinkler systems are in good working order. Replace washers, and check that hoses don’t leak.
- Cutting grass more often and at taller blade height will help to maintain precious ground moisture and provide shade to moist ground.
- Follow Xeriscape techniques by using mulch around garden areas, and use soil amendments like compost. Select plants that require low water for maintenance and water efficiently.
- Use a blower/broom to remove debris from sidewalks, driveways and patios instead of water from a hose.
Take shorter showers. Shut off the water while lathering with soap or shampoo.
- Hand wash dishes by using two water basins: one to wash and one to rinse dishes. Use automatic dishwashers when they are full.
- Do not thaw meat by running water, instead thaw in the refrigerator or use the microwave defrost setting.
- Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth, washing, or shaving.
- While waiting for water to become hot, capture the cooler water for plant watering or for microwave/stove heating.
- Check your home for water leaks. Areas to inspect are toilets, faucets and aerators. Unusually high water meter readings from your utility bill can signal a leak.
- Select a water faucet or shower head with flow restrictors.
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For questions or copies of previous year’s reports, please contact the Laboratory Manager at (561)
To contact the Department of Public Utilities, please dial (561)
To contact the City of West Palm Beach, please dial (561)
Yours in service, |
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.James |
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Keith A |
Palm Beach |
Mayor, City of West |
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2020 Informe anual de calIdad del agua potable |
(561) |
Vi sit e n u e stro s i ti o we b e n : |
We welcome your feedback so we can continue to
communicate what matters most to you.
Public Water System # 4501559
Published June 2021
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How we turn our Source Water |
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How do contaminants get into drinking water? |
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UV disinfection |
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6 |
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industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas |
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Water is fil- |
PaC chamber |
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tered through |
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2 |
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Carbon and sand |
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• Pesticides and herbicides which may come from a variety |
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Chemicals |
7 |
5 |
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of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and |
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are added |
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residential uses. |
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to disinfect |
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• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile |
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the water |
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organic chemicals, which are |
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3 |
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4 |
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and petroleum production, and can, also, come from gas stations, |
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urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. |
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9 |
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Chemicals are |
Water flows |
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• Radioactive contaminants which can be naturally occurring or be |
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8 |
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mixed in to re- |
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Water is pumped |
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move impurities |
through set- |
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the result of oil and gas production, and mining activities. |
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to the City of |
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More chemicals |
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tling basins, |
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In the test results contained in this report, you |
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are added to prevent |
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chemicals combine with |
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West Palm Beach |
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pipeline corrosion |
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impurities to form |
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may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. |
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larger particals that |
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City of West Palm Beach’s |
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sink to the bottom |
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To help you better understand these terms, |
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Water Treatment Process |
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we have provided the following definitions: |
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AL- Action Level: the concentration of a contaminant which, if |
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Source Water Assessment |
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water system must follow. |
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In 2020 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) |
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exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a |
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I - Between laboratory detection limit and lab practical |
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performed a source water assessment of our system. The purpose |
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quantitation limit. |
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of the assessment was to provide information on any potential |
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LRAA- Locational Running Annual Average: the average of |
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sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells and source |
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sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular |
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water intake. Source water investigation by the FDEP indicated no |
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monitoring location during the previous four calendar |
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potential sources of contamination within the assessment area for |
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quarters. |
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our system. As a result, the water system intake is considered to have |
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a concern level of “low”. The assessment results are available on the |
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contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set |
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FDEP Source Water Assessment and Program Protection Website at: |
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as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available |
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treatment technology. |
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MCLG- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: the level of a |
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Search by PWS # 4501559 to view the assessment. |
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contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known |
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Period covered by Report |
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or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. |
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The City of West Palm Beach routinely monitors for contaminants in |
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MRDL- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: the highest level |
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your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules and |
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of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing |
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regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on |
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evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control |
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the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December |
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of microbial contaminants. |
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MRDLG- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: the |
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31, 2020. The EPA requires monitoring of over 80 contaminants. The |
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level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is |
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contaminants listed in the table are the only contaminants detected |
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no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect |
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in your drinking water. As you can see, the Report illustrates that our |
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the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial |
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system had no violations. We are proud that your drinking water met |
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contaminants. |
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all Federal and State requirements. |
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N/A- Not Applicable |
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ND- Not Detected: indicates that the substance was not found by |
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Vulnerability to Contaminants |
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laboratory analysis. |
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Some people may be more vulnerable to |
people should seek advice about drinking |
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Ppb- Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L): One part |
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contaminants in drinking water than the |
water from their health care providers. |
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by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water |
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sample. |
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general population. Immunocompromised |
EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
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Ppm- Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L): One part |
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people – such as someone with cancer |
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen |
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by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water |
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undergoing chemotherapy, those who |
the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and |
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sample. |
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have undergone organ transplant, people |
other microbial contaminants are available |
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RDL- Regulatory Detection Limit: The lowest level of |
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with HIV/AIDS or other immune system |
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline |
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contaminant that is required to be reported. |
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disorders, some elderly, and infants - can |
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TT- Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce |
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be particularly at risk for infections. These |
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the level of a contaminant in drinking water. |
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Water Quality Test Results
Contaminant and |
Dates of |
MCL |
Highest |
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Range of |
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Unit of |
sampling |
Violation |
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MCLG MCL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
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Monthly %/ # |
Results |
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Measurement |
(mo./yr.) |
Y/N |
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Total Coliform |
12/20 |
N |
0.7% / 1 |
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N/A |
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0 |
0 |
Naturally found in the environment |
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Inorganic Contaminants |
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Contaminant and |
Dates of |
MCL |
Level |
Range of |
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Unit of |
sampling |
Violation |
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MCLG |
MCL |
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Likely Source of Contamination |
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Detected |
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Results |
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Measurement |
(mo./yr.) |
Y/N |
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Arsenic (ppb) |
01/20 |
N |
0.53 (I) |
ND – 0.53 (I) |
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0 |
10 |
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Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from |
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glass and electronics production wastes |
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Barium (ppm) |
01/20 |
N |
0.0067 |
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0.0067 |
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2 |
2 |
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Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from |
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metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
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Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from |
Fluoride (ppm) |
01/20 |
N |
0.57 |
0.45 – 0.57 |
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4 |
4.0 |
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fertilizer and aluminum factories. Water |
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additive which promotes strong teeth when |
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at the optimum level of 0.7 ppm |
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) |
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Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from |
01/20 |
N |
0.18 |
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0.18 |
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10 |
10 |
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septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural |
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(ppm) |
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deposits |
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Sodium (ppm) |
01/20 |
N |
33.7 |
33.6 – 33.7 |
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NA |
160 |
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water |
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Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection |
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Contaminant and |
Dates of |
MCL |
Level |
Range of |
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Unit of |
sampling |
Violation |
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MCLG |
MCL |
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Likely Source of Contamination |
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Detected |
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Results |
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Measurement |
(mo./yr.) |
Y/N |
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Total Chlorine |
1/20 to |
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Residual |
N |
3.1* |
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0.2 – 4.5 |
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4 |
4 |
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Water additive used to control microbes |
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12/20 |
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(Chloramines) |
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Chlorine (Free) |
7/20 |
N |
2.2* |
0.10 – 3.9 |
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4 |
4 |
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Water additive used to control microbes |
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Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection |
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Disinfectant or |
Dates of |
MCL or |
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MCLG |
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Contaminant and |
MRDL |
Level |
Range of |
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MCL or |
Likely Source of Contamination |
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sampling |
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or |
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Unit of |
Violation |
Detected |
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Results |
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MRDL |
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(mo./yr.) |
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MRDLG |
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Measurement |
Y/N |
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3/20, 6/20, |
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Haloacetic Acids |
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9/20 and |
N |
15.8 ** |
9.6 – 17.4** |
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NA |
MCL = 60 |
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(five) (HAA5) (ppb) |
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12/20 |
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TTHM [Total |
3/20, 6/20, |
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Trihalomethanes] |
9/20 and |
N |
24.0 ** |
17.8 – 30.7** |
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NA |
MCL = 80 |
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(ppb) |
12/20 |
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Lead and Copper (Tap Water) |
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Contaminant and Unit |
Dates of |
AL |
90th |
No. of sampling |
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AL |
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Likely Source of Contamination |
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sampling |
Exceeded |
sites exceeding |
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MCLG |
(Action |
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of Measurement |
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(mo./yr.) |
(Y/N) |
Result |
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the AL |
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Level) |
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Corrosion of household plumbing systems; |
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Copper (tap water) |
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10/20 |
N |
0.14 |
0 out of 101 |
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1.3 ppm |
1.3 ppm |
erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood |
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(ppm) |
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preservatives |
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Lead (tap water) (ppb) |
10/20 |
N |
1.4 |
1 out of 101 |
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0 |
15 ppb |
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Corrosion of household plumbing systems, |
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erosion of natural deposits |
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Secondary Contaminants |
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Contaminant and Unit |
Dates of |
MCL or |
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MCLG |
MCL or |
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Likely Source of |
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MRDL |
Level |
Range of Results |
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of Measurement |
|
sampling |
Violation |
Detected |
or |
MRDL |
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Contamination |
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(mo./yr.) |
Y/N |
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MRDLG |
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Chloride (ppm) |
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1/20 |
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N |
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48.9 |
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34.7 – 48.9 |
250 ppm |
250 ppm |
Natural occurrence from soil |
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leaching |
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Sulfate (ppm) |
|
1/20 |
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N |
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32.5 |
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25.2 – 32.5 |
250 ppm |
250 ppm |
Natural occurrence from soil |
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leaching |
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Total Dissolved Solids |
1/20 |
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N |
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294 |
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261 - 294 |
500 ppm |
500 ppm |
Natural occurrence from soil |
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(TDS) (ppm) |
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leaching |
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Lowest Running |
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Contaminant and |
Dates of |
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TT |
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Annual Average, |
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Range of Monthly |
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Likely Source of |
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Unit of |
sampling |
Violation |
Computed Quarterly, |
MCLG |
MCL |
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Removal Ratios |
Contamination |
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Measurement |
(mo/yr) |
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Y/N |
of Monthly Removal |
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Ratios |
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Total organic |
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1/20- |
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N |
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1.2 |
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1.1 – 1.2 |
NA |
TT |
Naturally present in |
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carbon (ratio) |
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12/20 |
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the environment |
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Unregulated Contaminants |
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Contaminant and |
Dates of |
MCL |
Level |
Range of |
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|
Unit of |
sampling |
Violation |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
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Detected |
Results |
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Measurement |
(mo./yr.) |
Y/N |
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Total Organic Carbon |
3/20 |
~ |
11.4 |
11.4 |
~ |
~ |
Naturally present in the environment |
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(Source Water) (ppm) |
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Bromide (Source |
3/20 |
~ |
135 |
135 |
~ |
~ |
||
Water) (ppb) |
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HAA 5 (ppb) |
3/20 |
~ |
12.2 |
9.7 – 16.8 |
~ |
~ |
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HAA 6 Br (ppb) |
3/20 |
~ |
10.7 |
8.9 – 14.8 |
~ |
~ |
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HAA 9 (ppb) |
3/20 |
~ |
20.6 |
16.8 – 28.2 |
~ |
~ |
||
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|
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Information Hotline at (800)
*The results in the column indicating“Highest Level Detected” for chloramines/free chlorine is “the highest running annual average (RAA), computed quarterly, of monthly averages of all samples collected”. The range of results are the highest and lowest result from the individual sampling sites. Compliance with MCL standards are based on monthly averages.
- The results in the column indicating “Level Detected” for TTHM and HAA5 are the highest LRAA. The range of results are the highest and lowest result from the individual sampling sites. Compliance with MCL standards are based on quarterly averages.
Important Information
About our Drinking Water
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of West Palm Beach is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but it cannotcontrol the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for30 seconds to 2 minutesbefore using water for drinking orcooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Information Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
City of West Palm Beach Public Utilities Department completed monitoring for unregulated contaminants (UCs) as part of a study to help the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine the occurrence in drinking water of UCs and whether or not these contaminants need to be regulated. At present, no health standards (for example, maximum contaminant levels) have been established for UCs. However, we are required to publish the analytical results of our UC monitoring in our annual Water Quality Report. If you would like more information on the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
Contaminants
Palm Beach County Water Utilities
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 529876
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Groundwater
- Total: 23
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Chlorate
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Chlorodifluoromethane
- Chloromethane
- Chromium (total)
- Cyanide
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene)
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Oxamyl (Vydate)
- Picloram
- Strontium
- Uranium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
This article is a basic rundown on tap water quality in West Palm Beach, Florida. For more detailed information about the quality of your drinking water, see the links below. This article looks at general issues surrounding tap water in general.
There are two types of tests that can be performed to determine whether or not your tap water contains harmful contaminants. The first test is known as the "Chlorine" test. This test requires that a sample is placed into a glass and then exposed to chlorine gas. Once the glass is left on the burner, the gas vapors will be detected by a gas analyzer.
The second test, known as the "Reverse Osmosis" test, requires that the sample is placed into a glass and then subjected to high pressure, low temperature water. The resulting liquid will contain a few molecules of chlorine.
There are a number of other methods that can be used to determine the quality of your tap water. These include testing it under a