Copper Contamination

Copper in Florida Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

105

Cities Tested

105

Exceeds Limit

100%

% Exceeds Limit

5.238 mg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

343

Health Violations

Analysis

Copper in Florida: what the data shows

Florida has 105 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 5.238 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 105 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level

Florida

100%

105 of 105 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3953 of 3953 cities

City Map

Copper data across Florida

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by copper level in Florida

Highest Copper levels (mg/L)

All Cities

All Florida cities ranked by copper level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Clearwater	199.000 mg/L	Yes	14	F
2	Port Orange	155.000 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
3	Jay	4.000 mg/L	Yes	24	B-
4	Sebring	3.860 mg/L	Yes	43	F
5	Bowling Greeen	3.725 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
6	Satsuma	3.300 mg/L	Yes	17	D
7	Fort Pierce	3.120 mg/L	Yes	85	F
8	Floral City	2.850 mg/L	Yes	40	D
9	Crystal River	2.800 mg/L	Yes	10	F
10	Milton	2.700 mg/L	Yes	19	B-
11	Century	2.600 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
12	Miami	2.500 mg/L	Yes	104	F
13	Eustis	2.500 mg/L	Yes	16	B-
14	Orlando	2.400 mg/L	Yes	78	F
15	Dunnellon	2.400 mg/L	Yes	10	F
16	Naples	2.380 mg/L	Yes	42	F
17	Lake City	2.329 mg/L	Yes	112	F
18	Gulf Breeze	2.310 mg/L	Yes	5	B
19	Sanderson	2.310 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
20	Casselberry	2.300 mg/L	Yes	10	B
21	Molino	2.300 mg/L	Yes	5	A-
22	Micco	2.300 mg/L	Yes	82	D
23	Bristol	2.280 mg/L	Yes	7	C+
24	Ft. Pierce	2.220 mg/L	Yes	16	F
25	Frostproof	2.205 mg/L	Yes	20	F
26	Lake Mary	2.200 mg/L	Yes	1	B
27	Navarre Beach	2.200 mg/L	Yes	4	A
28	Chuluota	2.200 mg/L	Yes	18	A-
29	Crawfordville	2.182 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
30	Thonotosassa	2.150 mg/L	Yes	54	F
31	Groveland	2.100 mg/L	Yes	2	B
32	Arcadia	2.080 mg/L	Yes	43	F
33	Copeland	2.060 mg/L	Yes	44	B+
34	Lake Panasoffkee	2.010 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
35	Webster	2.000 mg/L	Yes	18	B
36	Inverness	1.989 mg/L	Yes	40	F
37	Lantana	1.910 mg/L	Yes	17	B-
38	Minneola	1.900 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
39	Tequesta	1.900 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
40	Land O' Lakes	1.900 mg/L	Yes	6	F
41	Chipley	1.900 mg/L	Yes	16	F
42	Punta Gorda	1.880 mg/L	Yes	101	F
43	Lithia	1.850 mg/L	Yes	12	B-
44	Ocoee	1.850 mg/L	Yes	5	C-
45	Winter Haven	1.830 mg/L	Yes	28	F
46	Mayo	1.810 mg/L	Yes	40	C-
47	Tampa	1.800 mg/L	Yes	64	F
48	Bonita Springs	1.800 mg/L	Yes	8	B
49	Port St. Joe	1.800 mg/L	Yes	25	C-
50	Mangonia Park	1.800 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
51	Osteen	1.800 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
52	Sanford	1.790 mg/L	Yes	8	F
53	Orange City	1.790 mg/L	Yes	14	C+
54	Trenton	1.730 mg/L	Yes	8	B+
55	Eagle Lake	1.720 mg/L	Yes	7	B-
56	Altamonte Springs	1.710 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
57	Kissimmee	1.700 mg/L	Yes	26	F
58	Labelle	1.700 mg/L	Yes	91	D
59	Melbourne Beach	1.700 mg/L	Yes	14	D+
60	Howey In The Hills	1.700 mg/L	Yes	8	D+
61	Okeechobee	1.690 mg/L	Yes	150	F
62	Brooksville	1.650 mg/L	Yes	41	F
63	Tavares	1.650 mg/L	Yes	11	C+
64	Dade City	1.650 mg/L	Yes	8	F
65	Umatilla	1.630 mg/L	Yes	3	B+
66	Bartow	1.610 mg/L	Yes	6	F
67	Astor	1.610 mg/L	Yes	9	B
68	Ocala	1.600 mg/L	Yes	91	F
69	Ormond Beach	1.600 mg/L	Yes	43	D+
70	Bunnell	1.600 mg/L	Yes	69	D
71	Lutz	1.600 mg/L	Yes	30	F
72	Bowling Green	1.600 mg/L	Yes	3	C
73	Leesburg	1.590 mg/L	Yes	49	F
74	Moore Haven	1.560 mg/L	Yes	33	F
75	High Springs	1.541 mg/L	Yes	18	B-
76	Florida City	1.540 mg/L	Yes	26	F
77	Davenport	1.540 mg/L	Yes	14	F
78	Homestead	1.526 mg/L	Yes	3	C
79	Winter Park	1.520 mg/L	Yes	6	C+
80	Mulberry	1.520 mg/L	Yes	17	F
81	Auburndale	1.510 mg/L	Yes	5	F
82	Stuart	1.510 mg/L	Yes	25	F
83	Old Town	1.506 mg/L	Yes	34	B
84	Clermont	1.500 mg/L	Yes	58	F
85	Longwood	1.500 mg/L	Yes	9	F
86	Oviedo	1.500 mg/L	Yes	12	B-
87	San Antonio	1.500 mg/L	Yes	15	D
88	Chiefland	1.490 mg/L	Yes	32	D+
89	St Cloud	1.480 mg/L	Yes	104	F
90	Apopka	1.470 mg/L	Yes	14	F
91	Carrabelle	1.450 mg/L	Yes	75	B
92	Lake Placid	1.430 mg/L	Yes	39	F
93	The Villages	1.420 mg/L	Yes	1	B
94	Coleman	1.420 mg/L	Yes	19	B
95	Lloyd	1.410 mg/L	Yes	1	B
96	Odessa	1.400 mg/L	Yes	8	C+
97	New Port Richey	1.400 mg/L	Yes	68	F
98	Hollywood	1.400 mg/L	Yes	32	F
99	Lady Lake	1.400 mg/L	Yes	18	F
100	Cantonment	1.400 mg/L	Yes	5	B
101	Holly Hill	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
102	Holiday	1.400 mg/L	Yes	18	F
103	Port Richey	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
104	Maitland	1.390 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
105	Indian Lake Estates	1.390 mg/L	Yes	2	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about copper in Florida

Is copper in Florida drinking water safe?

105 cities in Florida exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 5.238 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.

What causes high copper levels in Florida tap water?

Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.

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