Manganese Contamination

Manganese in Florida Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

159

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

% Over SMCL

18.4 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 14% vs national

vs National

321

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in Florida: what the data shows

Florida has 159 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 7 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 18.4 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

Florida

7 of 159 cities

← ▼ 14% below national rate (better)

National avg

18%

716 of 4016 cities

City Map

Manganese data across Florida

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in Florida

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Florida cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Panama City	1019.7 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	B-
2	Zephyrhills	301.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	F
3	New Port Richey	127.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	68	F
4	Kissimmee	126.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	26	F
5	Longwood	126.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	F
6	Wildwood	55.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	B-
7	Defuniak Springs	52.6 µg/L	Over SMCL	10	B
8	Punta Gorda	48.9 µg/L	No	101	F
9	Pensacola	47.3 µg/L	No	5	C
10	Altamonte Springs	45.7 µg/L	No	3	C+
11	Winter Pk/Casselbery	35.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
12	Deltona	32.6 µg/L	No	19	B+
13	Immokalee	32.2 µg/L	No	15	B
14	Freeport	31.5 µg/L	No	12	B-
15	Plant City	30.8 µg/L	No	85	D
16	North Port	27.2 µg/L	No	3	B
17	Milton	26.0 µg/L	No	19	B-
18	Quincy	26.0 µg/L	No	32	F
19	Sanford	25.2 µg/L	No	8	F
20	Fort Walton Beach	23.0 µg/L	No	4	A
21	Perry	22.2 µg/L	No	31	F
22	Tallahassee	22.0 µg/L	No	12	F
23	Eustis	20.2 µg/L	No	16	B-
24	Miramar Beach	20.2 µg/L	No	1	A-
25	Lakeland	19.6 µg/L	No	27	D
26	Live Oak	17.3 µg/L	No	23	D
27	Century	17.0 µg/L	No	1	B-
28	Lake Wales	16.1 µg/L	No	56	F
29	Lady Lake	15.4 µg/L	No	18	F
30	Mount Dora	15.3 µg/L	No	6	A
31	Clearwater	15.1 µg/L	No	14	F
32	Leesburg	14.3 µg/L	No	49	F
33	Jacksonville	14.1 µg/L	No	116	F
34	Lake City	14.1 µg/L	No	112	F
35	Okeechobee	13.8 µg/L	No	150	F
36	Orange City	13.0 µg/L	No	14	C+
37	Sebring	12.6 µg/L	No	43	F
38	Hobe Sound	12.1 µg/L	No	23	F
39	Minneola	11.7 µg/L	No	4	B-
40	Bradenton	11.3 µg/L	No	9	F
41	Sarasota	10.8 µg/L	No	9	C+
42	Pembroke Pines	10.7 µg/L	No	8	F
43	Gulf Breeze	10.4 µg/L	No	5	B
44	Clermont	9.9 µg/L	No	58	F
45	Apopka	9.4 µg/L	No	14	F
46	The Villages	9.0 µg/L	No	1	B
47	Panama City Beach	8.6 µg/L	No	12	A-
48	Destin	8.3 µg/L	No	0	A+
49	Palmetto	8.1 µg/L	No	3	B-
50	Haines City	7.9 µg/L	No	17	F
51	Tarpon Springs	7.9 µg/L	No	3	B+
52	Belleview	7.3 µg/L	No	18	F
53	Orlando	7.1 µg/L	No	78	F
54	Davenport	6.8 µg/L	No	14	F
55	Brooksville	6.7 µg/L	No	41	F
56	Lake Helen	6.6 µg/L	No	1	A-
57	Ft Lauderdale	6.4 µg/L	No	12	F
58	Deland	6.2 µg/L	No	11	C-
59	Winter Springs	6.2 µg/L	No	15	B
60	Hialeah Gardens	6.2 µg/L	No	6	B+
61	Opa Locka	6.2 µg/L	No	1	B-
62	Yalaha	6.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
63	Port St Lucie	5.9 µg/L	No	2	D
64	Maitland	5.9 µg/L	No	1	B+
65	Palm Coast	5.8 µg/L	No	6	B+
66	Winter Haven	5.8 µg/L	No	28	F
67	North Miami	5.4 µg/L	No	1	B
68	Fort Myers	5.3 µg/L	No	5	C+
69	High Springs	5.1 µg/L	No	18	B-
70	Palm Springs	4.9 µg/L	No	0	B
71	Tampa	4.7 µg/L	No	64	F
72	Avon Park	4.6 µg/L	No	6	C-
73	Port St. Joe	4.4 µg/L	No	25	C-
74	Port Charlotte	4.2 µg/L	No	4	B-
75	Groveland	4.2 µg/L	No	2	B
76	Safety Harbor	4.2 µg/L	No	1	A
77	Lake Buena Vista	4.1 µg/L	No	0	A
78	Miami Beach	4.0 µg/L	No	1	C+
79	Riviera Beach	3.7 µg/L	No	32	F
80	Miami	3.6 µg/L	No	104	F
81	Pinellas Park	3.4 µg/L	No	3	B
82	Hialeah	3.2 µg/L	No	0	B-
83	Jupiter	3.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
84	Oviedo	3.0 µg/L	No	12	B-
85	Homestead	2.9 µg/L	No	3	C
86	Winter Garden	2.8 µg/L	No	4	B
87	Navarre	2.8 µg/L	No	2	B-
88	Jensen Beach	2.7 µg/L	No	75	D
89	Lynn Haven	2.7 µg/L	No	3	A-
90	Casselberry	2.6 µg/L	No	10	B
91	Odessa	2.5 µg/L	No	8	C+
92	Niceville	2.5 µg/L	No	5	A-
93	Atlantic Beach	2.4 µg/L	No	6	A
94	Crestview	2.3 µg/L	No	13	A-
95	Bartow	2.3 µg/L	No	6	F
96	Lecanto	2.2 µg/L	No	2	F
97	Ocoee	2.1 µg/L	No	5	C-
98	Pace	2.0 µg/L	No	4	A
99	Palm Beach Gardens	1.9 µg/L	No	2	B
100	Tavares	1.9 µg/L	No	11	C+
101	Callaway	1.9 µg/L	No	3	B+
102	Santa Rosa Beach	1.8 µg/L	No	5	A
103	Lake Mary	1.8 µg/L	No	1	B
104	Melbourne	1.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
105	Ocala	1.7 µg/L	No	91	F
106	Boynton Beach	1.7 µg/L	No	42	F
107	Daytona Beach	1.7 µg/L	No	5	A-
108	Auburndale	1.7 µg/L	No	5	F
109	Dunedin	1.6 µg/L	No	4	B-
110	Boca Raton	1.6 µg/L	No	14	B+
111	Lehigh Acres	1.6 µg/L	No	7	B
112	Ponte Vedra	1.5 µg/L	No	7	B
113	South Daytona	1.5 µg/L	No	2	A
114	Holly Hill	1.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
115	Miramar	1.4 µg/L	No	2	F
116	Arcadia	1.4 µg/L	No	43	F
117	Hollywood	1.3 µg/L	No	32	F
118	Middleburg	1.3 µg/L	No	1	A
119	Temple Terrace	1.3 µg/L	No	4	A-
120	Vero Beach	1.2 µg/L	No	7	D
121	West Melbourne	1.2 µg/L	No	4	B+
122	Green Cove Springs	1.2 µg/L	No	8	A
123	Fernandina Beach	1.1 µg/L	No	16	B
124	North Miami Beach	1.0 µg/L	No	1	B
125	Lauderdale Lakes	1.0 µg/L	No	2	C
126	Delray Beach	1.0 µg/L	No	7	C
127	Coral Springs	0.9 µg/L	No	17	F
128	Gulfport	0.9 µg/L	No	1	A-
129	Deerfield Beach	0.9 µg/L	No	0	C
130	Winter Park	0.8 µg/L	No	6	C+
131	Placida	0.8 µg/L	No	5	B+
132	Plantation	0.8 µg/L	No	3	D+
133	Dania Beach	0.8 µg/L	No	9	D
134	Titusville	0.8 µg/L	No	1	C
135	Edgewater	0.7 µg/L	No	50	B-
136	Jacksonville	0.7 µg/L	No	6	A-
137	West Palm Beach	0.7 µg/L	No	23	C-
138	New Smyrna Beach	0.7 µg/L	No	18	B+
139	Pompano Beach	0.7 µg/L	No	1	F
140	Sunrise	0.7 µg/L	No	1	F
141	Oakland Park	0.6 µg/L	No	0	C-
142	Lake Clarke Shores	0.6 µg/L	No	7	B
143	Coconut Creek	0.6 µg/L	No	0	C+
144	St James City	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A
145	Palatka	0.6 µg/L	No	119	F
146	Ponte Vedra Beach	0.6 µg/L	No	12	B
147	Palm Bay	0.6 µg/L	No	8	B
148	Margate	0.5 µg/L	No	0	C-
149	Ft. Pierce	0.5 µg/L	No	16	F
150	St. Augustine	0.5 µg/L	No	39	F
151	Hallandale Beach	0.5 µg/L	No	2	F
152	Homosassa	0.5 µg/L	No	2	D
153	Port Orange	0.5 µg/L	No	2	B-
154	Weston	0.5 µg/L	No	2	B-
155	Cooper City	0.5 µg/L	No	1	C
156	Davie/Hollywood	0.5 µg/L	No	1	C
157	Naples	0.5 µg/L	No	42	F
158	Oldsmar	0.5 µg/L	No	0	A
159	Hurlburt Field	0.4 µg/L	No	6	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in Florida

Is manganese in Florida tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 7 cities in Florida exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in Florida water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

More contaminants