Water Quality Report

WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT

WINTER HAVEN, FL70,653 people servedGW
One or more issues require attention.
This system has contaminants at or above regulatory limits. See details below.
FPFAS
BLead
BViolations
AChromium-6
ALithium
DDrought
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F
PFAS
Filter your drinking water
PFAS 'forever chemicals' detected above the federal limit
6 ng/L PFOS · MCL 4 ng/L · 1.5× above limit
ACT SOON
B
Lead
No action needed
Low lead service line risk
7.9% lead service lines
ALL CLEAR
B
Violations
No action needed
Minor violations on record, all resolved
1 health violations in last 10 yrs
ALL CLEAR
A
Chromium-6
No action needed
Not detected in this water system
not detected
ALL CLEAR
A
Lithium
Lithium not detected in this system
Not detected in this water system
not detected
ALL CLEAR
D
Drought
No near-term action needed
Significant stress on this system's water supply
FYI
Measured in your 2024 water report
From your utility's Consumer Confidence Report · 16 contaminants tested
Above limit
Approaching limit
Within limits
Limit
Regulated contaminants — legally enforceable limits
TTHM [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb)
49.4 µg/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
HAA5 (Haloacetic Acid) (ppb)
35.5 µg/L
What is it?
Another group of disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. HAA5 measures the five most common species.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 60 µg/L (0.060 mg/L) is associated with increased cancer risk. Like THMs, the MCL is based on a running annual average.
What to do
Activated carbon filters can reduce HAA5. If your system consistently approaches the limit, a reverse osmosis filter provides more complete removal.
Fluoride (ppm)
1.1 mg/L
What is it?
Naturally occurring mineral, also added to many water systems to prevent tooth decay. The MCL (4 mg/L) is much higher than the typical added amount (0.7 mg/L).
Why it matters
At levels near the MCL, long-term exposure can cause skeletal fluorosis (bone pain and tenderness). The secondary standard of 2 mg/L triggers a required public notice about dental fluorosis risk in children.
What to do
Levels below 2 mg/L are within the range considered safe. If above 2 mg/L, children under 9 may be at risk for dental fluorosis — talk to your pediatric dentist.
Alpha emitters (pCi/l) (incl. Uranium)
3.17 pCi/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
Arsenic (ppb)
0.0017 mg/L
What is it?
A naturally occurring element found in rock and soil. Gets into drinking water through erosion of natural deposits or runoff from industrial and agricultural sources.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure is linked to increased risk of skin, bladder, and lung cancer. There is no safe level for arsenic — the MCL of 10 µg/L balances health protection with treatment feasibility.
What to do
If your water is near or above the limit, a reverse osmosis filter certified to NSF/ANSI 58 removes over 90% of arsenic. Point-of-use filters at the kitchen tap are effective and affordable.
Nitrate (ppm)
0.284 mg/L
What is it?
Comes from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. One of the most common groundwater contaminants in agricultural areas.
Why it matters
Nitrate above 10 mg/L can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants under 6 months — it interferes with blood's ability to carry oxygen. Adults can tolerate higher levels.
What to do
If you have an infant on formula and your water is above 5 mg/L, consider using bottled water for formula preparation. Boiling water does NOT remove nitrate — it concentrates it.
Barium (ppm)
0.02 mg/L
What is it?
A naturally occurring metal found in mineral deposits. Enters water through erosion of natural deposits or discharge from drilling and metal refining operations.
Why it matters
At high levels, barium can cause increased blood pressure. Levels well below the MCL of 2 mg/L are not a health concern.
What to do
No action needed at typical detection levels. Barium is rarely found near its MCL in treated drinking water.
Dalapon (ppb)
0.0011 mg/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
2,4-D (ppb)
0.000096 mg/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
Lead & copper — tested at your tap
Copper (tap water) (ppm)
0.26 mg/L
What is it?
Leaches from copper household plumbing and pipes. Some copper is a normal part of drinking water infrastructure.
Why it matters
Short-term exposure above the action level of 1.3 mg/L can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. At typical detected levels (well below the AL), copper is not a health concern.
What to do
If above the action level, run your tap for 30 seconds before drinking. Copper levels decrease as water flows through the pipes.
Lead (tap water) (ppm)
0.0007 mg/L
What is it?
Lead in drinking water almost always comes from your home's plumbing — not from the water source or treatment plant. Lead pipes, solder, and brass fixtures can leach lead, especially if water sits in pipes for hours.
Why it matters
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Even low levels can harm children's brain development, and cause kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. The action level of 15 µg/L is a regulatory trigger, not a safety threshold.
What to do
Run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in the morning. Use cold water for cooking and formula — hot water leaches more lead. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead removal is the most reliable protection.
No US limit — WHO recommendation
Sodium (ppm)
24.3 mg/L
What is it?
Naturally present in most water sources. Also increases from road salt, water softeners, and natural mineral deposits.
Why it matters
There is no federal MCL for sodium. The WHO suggests a guideline of 200 mg/L for people on sodium-restricted diets. For most people, sodium in water is a small fraction of dietary intake.
What to do
If you're on a sodium-restricted diet and your water is above 20 mg/L, talk to your doctor. For most people, no action needed.
MRDL
Chlorine (ppm)
2.18 mg/L
What is it?
Added intentionally to kill bacteria and viruses. A chlorine residual in your tap water means the disinfection is still active through the distribution system — this is by design.
Why it matters
The MRDL of 4 mg/L is the maximum allowed. Typical levels are 0.5–2 mg/L. Chlorine at normal levels is not a health concern — the disease risk from untreated water is far greater.
What to do
If you don't like the taste, let water sit in an open pitcher for 30 minutes or use an activated carbon filter. Both remove chlorine taste and odor.
% of limit

CCR data in early access — values are extracted from utility PDFs and may contain errors. Verify with your utility's 2024 CCR report.

Source: WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT Consumer Confidence Report 2024 · Extracted by WaterScore · Confidence: raw
Model estimates
Private Well Risk

Do you have or use a private well? Estimated contamination risk for wells in this area based on local geology and land use.

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1 site within 10 mi
Nearby Superfund Sites

1 EPA Superfund site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily mean your water is affected.

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26 wells
Water Sources

Winter Haven pumps water from 26 groundwater wells drawing from local groundwater.

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Spatial context
Your area on the map
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Data sources: EPA SDWIS · EPA UCMR5 · USGS. WaterScore is informational only and does not constitute health or legal advice. Last updated: 2026.

System ID: FL6531992 · Search another address · About & Methodology · Contact