Is Florida Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 64 cities across Florida. Find your city below.
Water quality in Florida varies significantly from city to city. Across 64 cities we track, hardness ranges from 160 PPM in Dunedin to 310 PPM in Leesburg, with a statewide average of 236 PPM. 64 of 64 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
35 Florida cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Leesburg (7.85 ppt), Sun City Center (39.81 ppt), Lake Worth (35.1 ppt), Miami Beach (47.6 ppt), Miami (230.87 ppt), and 30 more. A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
64
Cities
236
Avg Hardness (PPM)
310
Hardest City (PPM)
Complete Florida Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in Florida
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
Florida cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Sun City Center
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterMiami
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterWest Palm Beach
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterDoral
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterSiesta Key
🧂 Best SoftenerClearwater
🧂 Best SoftenerLargo
🧂 Best SoftenerSarasota
🧂 Best SoftenerSt. Petersburg
🧂 Best SoftenerDowntown Orlando
🧂 Best SoftenerJacksonville
🧂 Best SoftenerTampa
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterOrlando
🧂 Best SoftenerFort Myers
🧂 Best SoftenerSouth Tampa
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterCity Comparisons
Leesburg vs Dunedin
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Leesburg vs Sun City Center
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Sun City Center vs Lake Worth
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
More for Florida
Moving to MiamiMoving to DoralSoftener Cost in Sun City CenterSoftener Cost in MiamiSoftener Cost in West Palm BeachFlorida Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leesburg | 310 | Extremely Hard | 7.85 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Sun City Center | 310 | Extremely Hard | 39.81 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Lake Worth | 280 | Extremely Hard | 35.1 | Surficial Aquifer |
| Miami Beach | 280 | Extremely Hard | 47.6 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| St. Johns | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Port St. Lucie West | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Pinecrest | 270 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Miami | 260 | Extremely Hard | 230.87 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Deltona | 260 | Extremely Hard | 42.35 | Floridan Aquifer wells |
| Deerfield Beach | 260 | Extremely Hard | 16.65 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Fort Lauderdale Beach | 260 | Extremely Hard | 72.5 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Pembroke Pines West | 260 | Extremely Hard | 146.65 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Kissimmee | 259 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Upper Floridan Aquifer |
| Palm Coast | 255 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Apopka | 252 | Extremely Hard | 28.6 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Jupiter | 250 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer & surficial wells |
| Tamarac | 250 | Extremely Hard | 38.5 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| West Palm Beach | 250 | Extremely Hard | 65.22 | Lake Okeechobee + local |
| Ormond Beach | 250 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Boca Raton | 249 | Very Hard | 6.45 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Sanford | 248 | Very Hard | 19.25 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Coral Springs | 247 | Very Hard | 46.1 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Palm Bay | 245 | Very Hard | 45.73 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Doral | 245 | Very Hard | 230.87 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Boynton Beach | 245 | Very Hard | 65.44 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Gainesville | 243 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Cape Coral | 242 | Very Hard | 0 | Lower Tamiami Aquifer |
| Hollywood | 241 | Very Hard | 56.5 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Lakeland | 241 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Coconut Creek | 240 | Very Hard | 83.4 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Winter Haven | 240 | Very Hard | 19.75 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Fort Lauderdale | 240 | Very Hard | 72.5 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Siesta Key | 240 | Very Hard | 7.23 | Peace River + groundwater |
| Lauderhill | 235 | Very Hard | 88.4 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Port Orange | 235 | Very Hard | 3.8 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Margate | 232 | Very Hard | 82.5 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Sunrise | 230 | Very Hard | 35.2 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| North Port | 230 | Very Hard | 30.04 | Peace River & Floridan Aquifer |
| Palmetto | 230 | Very Hard | 0 | Manatee River + wells |
| Miramar | 227 | Very Hard | 0 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Ocala | 226 | Very Hard | 138.1 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Clearwater | 225 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Naples | 225 | Very Hard | 0 | Lower Tamiami Aquifer |
| Plantation | 225 | Very Hard | 0 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Pembroke Pines | 222 | Very Hard | 146.65 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Largo | 220 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer blended |
| New Port Richey | 220 | Very Hard | 32.21 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Port St. Lucie | 218 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Sarasota | 218 | Very Hard | 7.23 | Myakka River, Peace River, ASR |
| St. Petersburg | 215 | Very Hard | 3.1 | Regional blend |
| Daytona Beach | 213 | Very Hard | 10.1 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Pensacola | 210 | Very Hard | 210.42 | Sand-and-gravel aquifer |
| Downtown Orlando | 210 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Jacksonville | 209 | Very Hard | 11.51 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Tallahassee | 207 | Very Hard | 14.35 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Hialeah | 204 | Very Hard | 193.1 | Biscayne Aquifer |
| Tampa | 201 | Very Hard | 39.81 | Hillsborough River, Tampa Bay Desal |
| Orlando | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridian Aquifer |
| Fort Myers | 200 | Very Hard | 39.81 | Caloosahatchee River, groundwater |
| Celebration | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| Melbourne | 197 | Very Hard | 14.47 | Floridan Aquifer, surface water |
| Jacksonville Beach | 190 | Very Hard | 0 | Floridan Aquifer |
| South Tampa | 180 | Very Hard | 39.81 | Hillsborough River + desalination |
| Dunedin | 160 | Hard | 0 | Tampa Bay Water + wells |
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Water
Is Florida tap water safe to drink?
Florida tap water meets EPA legal standards in most cities. 35 cities have PFAS levels above the EPA health advisory of 4 ppt. The statewide average hardness of 236 PPM means most homes deal with hard water effects like scale buildup, though hardness is not a health concern. Check your specific city above for detailed data.
Do I need a water softener in Florida?
Most Florida cities would benefit from a water softener. The state average is 236 PPM, and 100% of cities exceed 120 PPM where softener benefits become measurable. A salt-based softener reduces scale damage, energy waste, and product use.
Which Florida city has the hardest water?
Leesburg has the hardest water in Florida at 310 PPM (18.1 GPG). Sun City Center is second at 310 PPM. See the full ranking.
What contaminants are in Florida water?
The most common concerns across Florida are hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium), and PFAS (forever chemicals) detected in 35 cities. Each city has different levels - check your city above for specific contaminant data.
How much does a water softener cost in Florida?
A whole-house water softener for a typical Florida home costs $800-$2,500 installed, depending on capacity and brand. At 236 PPM average hardness, most homes need a 32,000-48,000 grain system. Full cost breakdown.