West Palm Beach, FL Water Quality Report
Is West Palm Beach tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for West Palm Beach, Florida. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is West Palm Beach, FL tap water safe to drink? West Palm Beach, FL tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 8.29 ppt across 9 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in West Palm Beach, FL water? Top PFAS compounds detected in West Palm Beach water: PFOS (39 ppt), PFBS (16 ppt), PFOA (16 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in West Palm Beach, FL? Match the filter to what's in Florida water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.
West Palm Beach, FL Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in West Palm Beach, FL drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 39 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 8.29 ppt across 9 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFOS: 39 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBS: 16 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOA: 16 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- 6:2 FTS: 13 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 11.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in West Palm Beach, FL Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 49 lead samples for West Palm Beach water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.012 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in West Palm Beach, FL
West Palm Beach public water systems have 9 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of West Palm Beach, FL: approximately 111,006.
ZIP Codes Served
What West Palm Beach, Florida Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
- For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Florida utility publishes each year