Escambia County, Florida: drinking water report. Escambia County – Pensacola – serves about 320,000 residents in the Florida Panhandle.
Escambia County – Pensacola – serves about 320,000 residents in the Florida Panhandle. Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) draws from the Sand and Gravel Aquifer, a shallow aquifer system beneath the county. Unlike the deep Floridan Aquifer used by most of Florida, the Sand and Gravel Aquifer is closer to the surface and more vulnerable to contamination.
NAS Pensacola and its auxiliary fields are confirmed PFAS sources from decades of AFFF firefighting foam use. The shallow Sand and Gravel Aquifer's vulnerability means PFAS from the base has contaminated groundwater that feeds public water system wells. According to the Florida DEP, PFAS monitoring near NAS Pensacola has found concentrations exceeding health advisory levels in several monitoring wells.
UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in ECUA's system. ECUA has taken contaminated wells offline and installed treatment at others. The Navy has funded some remediation, but the scope of contamination across multiple military properties in the Pensacola area creates a long-term challenge.
Escambia County's military PFAS contamination is among the most significant in Florida's Panhandle. Proximity to NAS Pensacola correlates with PFAS risk.
Check your water for data specific to your area. Reverse osmosis provides the strongest household PFAS removal. Our water filter guide covers certified options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our Florida page for statewide data.