Florida
Florida sits in the South and draws its water primarily from Floridan aquifer, Biscayne aquifer, and surface water. With roughly 22.2 million residents, the state has an established water reuse program, reusing an estimated 49% of its treated wastewater.
Floridawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Florida
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 176 |
| TTHM | 108 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 62 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 29 |
| Coliform (TCR) | 10 |
| Groundwater Rule | 9 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Florida reuses roughly half its treated wastewater — one of the highest rates nationally — while fighting saltwater intrusion into the aquifers that supply South Florida.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Florida currently tracks around severe to extreme conditions. Florida has 1,516 community water systems serving about 22 million people; EPA records show 354 of them (23.4%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Florida in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 134 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 15.3 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 62.9%
- Irrigation share
- 16%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~49%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Floridan aquifer
- ≈ Biscayne aquifer
- ≈ surface water
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Florida?
Florida has 1,516 community water systems serving about 22 million people. EPA records show 354 of them (23.4%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 5 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Florida's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
How much water does Florida use per person?
Public water systems in Florida withdraw about 134 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 62.9% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Florida?
As of 2026-06-09, 95.1% of Florida is in drought (D1+) and 69.8% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Florida
30 trackedJacksonville
Jacksonville, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Miami
Miami, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Tampa
The Tampa Bay region pairs extensive reclaimed-water networks with the largest seawater desalination plant in the U.S. to diversify supply away from stressed aquifers.
Orlando
Orlando, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Hialeah
Hialeah, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Cape Coral
Cape Coral, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Port Saint Lucie
Port Saint Lucie, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Hollywood
Hollywood, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Florida
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
Explore