01The verdict: is Oakland Park water safe?
Oakland Park's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C- (59/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 38,905 residents using groundwater (wells).
26 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items 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 3.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓29 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 ↓Oakland Park's drinking water received a grade of C- (59 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 38,905 residents using purchased ground water.
Lead levels were measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. PFAS testing under UCMR 5 found no detectable forever chemicals. The system has 48 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 26 remain unresolved.
Oakland Park ranks #252 out of 366 cities in Florida for water quality, placing it below average in the state. Oakland Park purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.24 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. The system has seen 29 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Oakland Park's water
Every contaminant flagged in Oakland Park, 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. | 3.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
| lithium LithiumInorganic A naturally occurring alkali metal found in groundwater. Monitored under UCMR 5 to assess occurrence in drinking water. Health EffectsKidney effects at high doses. Low-level exposure effects under study; some research suggests neurological effects. EPA LimitNo MCL (monitoring only under UCMR 5) Common SourcesNatural mineral deposits, geothermal water, and industrial discharge. | ND | HI | µg/L | PFAS | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | ND | HI | µg/L | PFAS | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | ND | HI | µg/L | PFAS | Not Detected |
| PFTA | ND | HI | µg/L | PFAS | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | ND | HI | µg/L | PFAS | Not Detected |
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
03Oakland Park'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 48 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 26 remain unresolved.
2 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.
▲ Up 2 ppb since 1992. Latest reading: 3 ppb (2023) — 20% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Oakland Park's water comes from
Oakland Park purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.
Purchased Groundwater
Water is bought from a regional wholesaler; quality starts at the supplier's intake and treatment.
Wholesale supplier
Primary treatment happens at the wholesaler; the local utility maintains disinfectant residual in its pipes.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
38,905 people
Residents served across Oakland Park's service area.
Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Oakland Park's local distribution pipes and storage facilities. Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 38,905 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAKLAND PARK CITY OF | FL4060989 | 38,905 | Purchased Groundwater |
05Pressure on Oakland Park'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 7 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 Broward County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
4 National Priorities List sites within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Broward 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 Oakland Park compares
Scores for nearby Florida cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Florida average (49/100)
Oakland Park scores 59/100 — above the Florida average of 49/100. It outscores 6 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 Oakland Park's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Oakland Park'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 Oakland Park 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 Oakland Park, FL tap water safe to drink?
Oakland Park's water quality earned a grade of C- (59/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #252 out of 366 cities tested in Florida.
What contaminants are in Oakland Park's water?
Lead was measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile). No PFAS compounds were detected. 48 violations are on record.
How is Oakland Park'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 Oakland Park?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Oakland Park's water come from?
Oakland Park's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 38,905 residents.
Is Oakland Park's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Oakland Park uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 48 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Oakland Park's water compare to other cities?
Oakland Park ranks #252 out of 366 cities in Florida (better than 31% of state cities) and #12014 out of 15382 cities nationally (22th percentile). The grade of C- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.