How Safe is Southwest Florida’s Tap Water?

For many people who live in Lee and Collier counties, concern about tap water safety in their home is an important issue.

Unless there are specific water boil notifications for your neighborhood (or other public advisories or notifications), drinking water from the tap is considered safe due to strict federal and regional guidelines and regulations. Each county’s water system is highly regulated and tested on an ongoing basis for harmful bacteria, chemicals, human waste, and other potentially dangerous toxins.

However, it is still advisable to use some sort of water filtration system or other purifying mechanism in your home. This helps to ensure no harmful contaminants are inadvertently being overlooked in those screenings, and can also help remove excess chemicals that might alter the taste.

Groundwater is the source of drinking water for approximately 90% of Florida residents and the potential sources of contamination are numerous. Power plants, landfills, hazardous waste locations, and agricultural runoff all have the potential to emit toxins into the ground that can eventually end up in our aquifers and water tables.

As an example, the Miami Herald’s Curtis Morgan wrote a story in 2009, “Pollutants Lurk in South Florida Tap Water,” in which he exposed an environmental group’s report that found a variety of pollutants in that area’s tap water supply:

“More than 100 pollutants, from farm herbicides to factory solvents, have shown up in Florida tap water during the last five years — many barely detectable, but more than a quarter exceeding federal standards at least once, according to a report compiled by an environmental group … The most common: disinfectants used in water treatment, followed by assorted other toxic substances such as cyanide, arsenic, radium and barium.”

Utility companies and regulators have aggressively defended the safety of Florida’s water supply, but the article, along with some other reports, has still raised some questions.

Water filtration systems are relatively inexpensive and are not only a good safeguard from these potential overlooked contaminants, but they also help reduce the use of bottled water consumption, saving you money and lowering your home’s environmental impact.

If you have any questions about water filtration inside your home or any other plumbing-related issues, feel free to call our office at (239) 542-4421 and we will be happy to help.