Is Tampa tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Tampa's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

78/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
8.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Tampa

Moderately Hard Water (8.5 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Tampa

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Tampa

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.4 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Tampa
Florida

336,013,360,233,603 · Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay desalination

Tampa, FL Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 400,000 residents
See Best Filters for Tampa
78
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2.5 ppb
Nitrate
1.2 mg/L
Arsenic
0.4 mg/L
Hardness
8.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    With a hardness of 8.5 GPG, Tampa residents may notice white scale on faucets. Hard water increases maintenance costs.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Tampa's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

78 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Tampa tap water is sourced from Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay desalination and treated by Tampa Bay Water and City of Tampa. Water hardness is hard at 8.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 78/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Tampa's 3 issues.

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Tampa Water FAQ

Is Tampa FL tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Tampa tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 78/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Tampa FL use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Tampa uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.9 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Tampa FL water and what is the TDS level?
Tampa water hardness is 8.5 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 350 ppm (poor). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in Tampa FL drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Tampa drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Tampa?
Based on Tampa's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Tampa has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

Boca RatonFlorida — 61/100Coral SpringsFlorida — 61/100TallahasseeFlorida — 67/100MiamiFlorida — 73/100HialeahFlorida — 73/100Fort LauderdaleFlorida — 78/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Tampa Bay Water and City of Tampa CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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