Pensacola, FL Water Quality Report

Is Pensacola tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Pensacola, Florida. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Pensacola tap water safe to drink? Pensacola water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 380 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Pensacola water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Pensacola water: PFOS (380 ppt), PFHxS (180 ppt), PFHpA (69 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Pensacola? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Pensacola Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Pensacola drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 380 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 4.87 ppt across 12 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 380 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 180 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 69 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 65 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • 6:2 FTS: 0.22 ppt

Lead in Pensacola Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 3 lead samples for Pensacola water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0006 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.

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 drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Pensacola: approximately 54,312.

ZIP Codes Served

32501, 32502, 32503, 32504, 32505

What Pensacola Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually