What was found in Sarasota's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 870 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2000 µg/L — WINDWARD ISLE MHP WATER SYSTEM · 321 people · 2018 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 370 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 61.52 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 116.9 µg/L — CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 79 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 45.35 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 55.925 µg/L — CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3.48 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.9 µg/L — SUN OUTDOORS SARASOTA · 3,800 people · 2017 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 18.25 µg/L 9.1% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 15.4 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Diquat | 2.5 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKE TIPPECANOE · 361 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 0.9000 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.29 µg/L — CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2018 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 2.27 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.9285 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WINDWARD ISLE MHP WATER SYSTEM · 321 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.9 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.5 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.4 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT LAKES · 1,700 people · 2018 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1.2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WINDWARD ISLE MHP WATER SYSTEM · 321 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: SUN OUTDOORS SARASOTA · 3,800 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.4220 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.4970 µg/L — WINDWARD ISLE MHP WATER SYSTEM · 321 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0130 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKE TIPPECANOE · 361 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0054 µg/L — PLURIS-SOUTH GATE UTILITIES · 15,897 people · 2024 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PLURIS-SOUTH GATE UTILITIES · 15,897 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0039 µg/L — PLURIS-SOUTH GATE UTILITIES · 15,897 people · 2024 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.00050 mg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST · 272,267 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0035 mg/L — LAKE TIPPECANOE · 361 people · 2024 | 7/7 | LCR |
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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Sarasota
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SARASOTA CO SPECIAL UTIL DIST | 272,267 |
| SARASOTA-CITY OF | 55,364 |
| PLURIS-SOUTH GATE UTILITIES | 15,897 |
| SUN OUTDOORS SARASOTA | 3,800 |
| CAMELOT LAKES | 1,700 |
| LAKE TIPPECANOE | 361 |
| WINDWARD ISLE MHP WATER SYSTEM | 321 |
Frequently asked questions about Sarasota tap water
Is Sarasota tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Sarasota. 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 Sarasota?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Sarasota, Florida to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Sarasota's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Sarasota include Fluoride, Nitrate, TTHM, Nitrite, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.