What was found in Pensacola's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 5000 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 820 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 120 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 36 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 29.5 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 24 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 23 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 15.88 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 15 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Endothall | 6.3 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 5 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.8 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.8 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 4.59 µg/L 92% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.7 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 2.31 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 1.8 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Styrene | 1.34 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 1.09 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.043 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.9000 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.8000 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chlorobenzene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.5200 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.4400 µg/L 8.8% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.3900 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| P-Dichlorobenzene | 0.2900 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 75 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.2500 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.2201 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1700 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.1389 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.1110 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0553 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0407 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0378 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0357 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0258 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.0200 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| PFNA | 0.0162 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0160 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Chlordane | 0.0130 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0120 mg/L 80% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 5/5 | LCR |
| Pfpes | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| 4:2 Fts | 0.0076 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Endrin | 0.0022 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/5 | SYR4 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on
record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Pensacola
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA) | 242,172 |
| PEOPLES WATER SERVICE COMPANY | 24,806 |
| NAS PENSACOLA / CORRY STATION | 22,600 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA | 13,285 |
| NAS SAUFLEY FIELD | 1,728 |
Frequently asked questions about Pensacola tap water
Is Pensacola tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 46 contaminants in the water serving Pensacola. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Pensacola?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pensacola, Florida to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pensacola's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pensacola include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Nitrite, TTHM. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.