Is University, FL tap water safe?
The short answer
4 of the 11 utilities serving University have a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and Florida’s records: Winter Park, City of (3 Wps), Florida Governmental Utility Authority, Pcud - Pasco County Regional PWS and 1 more.
City of Tampa Water Department, which serves the most people here, has 2 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFOS at 6.9 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
The water from City of Tampa Water Department is very hard, 211 mg/L (12.3 grains per gallon). How Florida’s water compares.
A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in University’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
City of Tampa Water Department
Florida · serves 733,886 people · about 19,400 in University
2 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFOS at 6.9 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029. Hardness: very hard, 211 mg/L (12.3 grains per gallon).
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Ocud/Southern Water Sys (5 Wps)
Florida · serves 80,738 people · about 18,100 in University
2 results above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 1.6 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Ocud/Western Regional WTR Sys (5 Wps)
Florida · serves 206,742 people · about 15,000 in University
1 result above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFOS at 5.0 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
University of Central Florida
Florida · serves 44,103 people · about 3,800 in University
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 4.7 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Hcwrc/Northwest Utilities
Florida · serves 208,982 people · about 2,500 in University
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 0.8 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Winter Park, City of (3 Wps)
Florida · serves 82,984 people · about 750 in University
1 result above the legal limit and 1 result above the health goal. The worst: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 73.5 ppb, above the legal limit.
2 health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Florida Governmental Utility Authority
Florida · serves 32,296 people · about 580 in University
1 result above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 1 result above the health goal. The worst: PFOS at 12.3 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
1 health-based violation since 2016
- Open report
Pcud - Pasco County Regional PWS
Florida · serves 214,403 people · about 550 in University
1 result above the legal limit, 1 result above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 3 results above the health goal. The worst: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 19.1 ppb, above the legal limit.
2 health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Windemere Utility
Florida · serves 3,080 people · about 170 in University
3 results above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 3.2 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Cax - Lakeshore LLC
Florida · serves 590 people · about 150 in University
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 1.2 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
1 more utility in University
By EPA’s estimate, each serves fewer people in University than those above.
- Tampa Sun Estates 4serves 50 people · nearly all in University · 2 health-based violations since 2016
What handles it
Each of these is certified, on a certifier’s listing, for a result above a line in City of Tampa Water Department’s water, which serves the most people here. Another utility’s report names what handles its own results.
Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money
Countertop reverse osmosis
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead, Arsenic
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis (AQ-SFRO2)
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead, Arsenic
Brondell Capella RC250 Reverse Osmosis System
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead, Arsenic
Water testing near University
The 3 labs Florida certifies closest to University, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Tampa Bay Water
Land O'Lakes, FL · about 24 miles
Certified for bacteria, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, PFAS
Benchmark Mid Florida Laboratory
Winter Haven, FL · about 25 miles
Certified for bacteria
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Environmental Sciences
Lake Buena Vista, FL · about 29 miles
Certified for bacteria
Florida Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratories: Coliform and E. coli testing for private wells at the Jacksonville and Miami labs. Collection kits come from your county health department, and the sample has to reach the lab on ice the same day it is collected. $40 for private testing through the state lab. Well Water Testing, Florida Department of Health.
All 212 certified labs for FloridaWhich ZIP codes are in University: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: Florida Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Certification Program, drinking water labs, as listed in TNI LAMS; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.
Near University
Other towns in Hillsborough County with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read City of Tampa Water Department’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Filters for PFOSRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.The best water filters for PFAS, ranked
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water