01The verdict: is Apollo Beach water safe?
Apollo Beach's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (86.7/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,395 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓5 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Apollo Beach's drinking water received a grade of A- (86.7 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 1,395 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 7 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Apollo Beach ranks #80 out of 366 cities in Florida for water quality, placing it above average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Apollo Beach may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Apollo Beach's water
Every contaminant flagged in Apollo Beach, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Florida
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Florida
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Apollo Beach's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 7 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 7.1 ppb since 2006. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2024) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Apollo Beach's water comes from
Apollo Beach's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
2 systems
2 water systems, operated under private ownership.
1,395 people
Residents served across Apollo Beach's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 1,395 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH SHORE FALLS SOUTH MASTER METER #1 | FL6296251 | 995 | Purchased Surface Water |
| SOUTH SHORE FALLS NORTH MASTER METER #2 | FL6296250 | 400 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Apollo Beach
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Apollo Beach's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Apollo Beach's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 18k lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Hillsborough County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Hillsborough County is in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Apollo Beach compares
Scores for nearby Florida cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Florida average (49/100)
Apollo Beach scores 86.7/100 — above the Florida average of 49/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Florida rankings →
35 / 100FOrlando, FL
36.8 / 100FTampa, FL
34.4 / 100FJacksonville, FL
39.7 / 100CWest Palm Beach, FL
59.2 / 100FBradenton, FL
41.8 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Apollo Beach's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Apollo Beach's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Apollo Beach alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Apollo Beach, FL tap water safe to drink?
Apollo Beach's water quality earned a grade of A- (86.7/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #80 out of 366 cities tested in Florida.
What contaminants are in Apollo Beach's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 7 violations are on record.
How is Apollo Beach's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Apollo Beach?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Apollo Beach's water come from?
Apollo Beach's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 1,395 residents.
How does Apollo Beach's water compare to other cities?
Apollo Beach ranks #80 out of 366 cities in Florida (better than 78% of state cities) and #4501 out of 15382 cities nationally (71th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.