Charlotte County, Florida: drinking water report. Charlotte County on Florida's Gulf Coast has about 186,000 residents in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and…
Charlotte County on Florida's Gulf Coast has about 186,000 residents in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and surrounding communities. The Peace River provides the primary water source, supplemented by the regional desalination plant. The county's water story is shaped by Florida's geology – porous limestone beneath sandy soils, a high water table, and a flat landscape where contamination spreads easily.
The Peace River carries phosphorus from the central Florida phosphate mining district upstream. According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's 2024 monitoring data, total phosphorus at the Charlotte County intake averaged 0.42 mg/L – elevated but consistent with the river's geology and upstream mining activity. The phosphorus drives algal growth in the lower river and Charlotte Harbor.
The former Punta Gorda Airport served military operations during WWII, and AFFF use has been documented. Florida DEP's 2024 PFAS investigation found PFOS at 10 ppt in monitoring wells near the airport. Red tide (Karenia brevis) events in the Gulf of Mexico occasionally affect Charlotte Harbor and the county's estuarine environment, though they do not directly impact the freshwater drinking supply.
Charlotte County's Peace River supply carries natural phosphorus from upstream geology, and the regional desalination supplement provides a diversified water portfolio. The main household concerns are disinfection byproducts from treating the nutrient-rich river water and trace PFAS.
Check your water for current data. A carbon filter addresses disinfection byproducts, while reverse osmosis adds PFAS protection. Our water filter guide covers systems suited to Florida surface water. Get your detailed report for seasonal patterns, and visit our Florida page for statewide context.