When you think of Orlando, Florida, a couple of things probably come to mind: plenty of sunshine, tons of family-friendly attractions, and, perhaps most excitingly of all, its world-famous theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios!
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando, you might be wondering whether it’s safe to drink the tap water. In short, tap water in Orlando is generally considered safe to drink; however, there are some potential quality issues so it’s always a good idea to filter first.
Key Takeaways: Can you drink the tap water in Orlando?
- Orlando, Florida’s tap water is technically safe to drink since it is heavily tested and goes through water treatment before it is distributed. However, there are some potential water quality concerns that aren’t always addressed by water regulations.
- Orlando’s tap water may contain traces of lead, industrial chemicals, and disinfection byproducts.
- To get rid of lead, chemicals, PFAS, and other common water contaminants in your Orlando drinking water, invest in a filtering water bottle or filtering watcher pitcher to purify your tap water before you drink.
Is tap water in Orlando safe to drink? What you should know before you drink tap water
The drinking water in Florida comes from the Floridan Aquifer, an underground water source that spans much of the state. This groundwater is then treated and distributed by the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), which uses advanced ozone treatment to make the water safe.
As a result, the water in Orlando has to align with drinking water standards and is legally safe to drink. But even though the water should technically be okay to consume, there are still some potential concerns from contamination that might warrant your attention before you drink.
PFAS
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS for short) are a group of chemicals that are made for the production of various commercial and manufacturing processes. These so-called “forever chemicals” are estimated to take hundreds of years to break down, which means that they can ultimately end up in water supplies. While researchers are still investigating just how serious these synthetic chemicals are in the long run, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that there is evidence that consumption may be linked to certain health based consequences like reproductive effects, developmental delays, and an increased risk of some cancers.
PFAS is becoming a worldwide concern, and Florida is no exception. The Florida Department of Environment Protection reported that both PFOA and PFOS (two kinds of PFAS) have contaminated groundwater sources, including some public well systems and federal facilities.
Industrial chemicals
Other byproducts of nearby industrial activities may also present issues with Orlando’s tap water supply. Chemicals that are used for various manufacturing processes can sometimes get into the groundwater, as was the case in nearby Seminole County, just north of Orlando. Just recently in the summer of 2023, authorities found concentrated levels of the chemical 1,4-dioxane, which may be linked to liver and kidney cancer, in the drinking water. It’s believed that this contamination infiltrated the Floridan Aquifer from a now-closed factory in the area.
Disinfection byproducts
The drinking water in Orlando is treated with chlorine, a chemical that is used to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Unfortunately, the addition of this chemical can lead to disinfection byproducts, which are potentially harmful compounds formed when chlorine reacts with other matter in the water.
For example, Orlando’s drinking water has evidence of both haloacetic acids (HAA9) and total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). While the levels of these byproducts are legally okay since they don’t exceed federal drinking standards, some health authorities believe that the limits of these byproducts are outdated. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), for example, has a much stricter limit for what it believes is safe. According to them, this means that Orlando has:
- 544 times EWG’s health guideline limit for Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
- 384 x EWG’s health guideline for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Lead
Finally, it’s also worth mentioning the potential risk of lead contamination in Orlando’s drinking water.
Lead is a heavy metal that has been linked to serious health concerns like reproductive harm and neurotoxicity, and its risks are especially serious for children. Lead used to be used as a building material for water supply pipes until its risks were uncovered. Florida, for its part, banned the use of lead in the building of water pipes in the 1980s.
The Orange County Annual Drinking Water Quality Report indicates that there are no known levels of lead in treated water. However, older lead pipes in older homes built before the 1980s may lead to lead contamination. Scarily, a survey by the Environmental Protection Agency released in April 2023 found that Florida has an existing 1.16 million lead pipes, which is more than any other state in the United States.
Conclusion
Technically speaking, Orlando’s tap water should be safe to drink since it is thoroughly tested and passes all state, federal, and local water quality guidelines before it is distributed through the pipe system. Unfortunately, some issues still remain that aren’t always addressed by water standards, including risks of PFAS/PFOA, disinfection byproducts, and heavy metals like lead.
So how can you make sure that your Orlando tap water is perfectly safe to drink? Run it through water filters first!
A filtering water bottle like LARQ Bottle Filtered can eliminate some of the most common drinking water contaminants with Nano Zero technology, including PFAS/PFOA, heavy metals, pesticides, lead, and chlorine, all while eliminating the need to buy wasteful plastic bottled water. If you’re an Orlando Florida based local, a countertop solution like the LARQ Pitcher PureVis can eliminate many of these water contaminants and purify your water for fresher, cleaner hydration.