News Summary
Tallahassee’s annual water quality report praises the city’s drinking supply, showing high-quality water despite some contaminants detected. The report details testing results, including findings of PFAS, and emphasizes ongoing measures to ensure compliance with new regulations for water safety and quality. City officials assure residents that the water remains safe to drink.
Tallahassee has released its annual water quality report, praising the overall standards of the city’s drinking supply. The document evaluates contaminant levels based on water samples collected throughout the previous year, from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The report indicates that residents continue to receive exceptionally high-quality water despite the detection of some contaminants.
During the assessment, a total of 19 contaminants were found in the city’s water supply, with the majority of these remaining within permissible levels. Importantly, only one contaminant, a chlorine odor from a specific sampling site, exceeded acceptable thresholds. However, follow-up tests showed that the odor level was below the acceptable limit.
The source of Tallahassee’s water comes from 27 deep wells that extract water from the Floridan aquifer. This strategy has enabled the city to maintain a strong track record of providing clean and dependable water for over 120 years.
According to the report, Tallahassee has identified 67 potential sources of water contamination, with varying susceptibility levels ranging from low to high. Environmental Services continues to use advanced technology and scientific methods to monitor and manage water quality.
Furthermore, Tallahassee participated in a study with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2023, focusing on unregulated contaminants in drinking water. A key area of concern was per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and human body.
PFAS contamination can arise from various sources, including manufacturing discharges, industrial processes, consumer products, and firefighting activities. In April 2024, the EPA established regulations for six types of PFAS and granted public water systems a five-year window to comply with these standards if their samples exceed allowable levels.
In an effort to comply with these new regulations, Tallahassee conducted testing on its wells for 29 different PFAS substances from January to July 2024. Results indicated that only one type of PFAS, Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), surpassed regulatory limits, registering at 7.9 parts per trillion, compared to the national limit of 4 parts per trillion. This exceedance was detected at a single well within the city’s 27-well system.
In response to the findings, the city is taking measures to enhance its water distribution system and ensure adherence to the new regulations concerning PFAS. City officials reassured residents that despite these findings, Tallahassee’s water remains safe, high-quality, and compliant with health-based regulatory standards.
The focus on compliance regarding emerging contaminants like PFAS reflects the city’s commitment to maintaining water quality and public health. As the 2029 regulatory deadline approaches, Tallahassee is proactively working to ensure that water quality remains uncompromised and continues to meet health safety benchmarks.
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee taps into praise for exceptional H2O
- Google Search: Tallahassee water quality
- Opinion on Tallahassee’s sewage and water quality woes
- Wikipedia: Water quality
- City commission to receive briefing on use of fluoride in water system
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water quality
- Tallahassee water quality report summary
- Google News: Tallahassee water report
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
