Water Quality Report

Taking steps to conserve water helps lower your water bill and safeguards our water supply for future generations.

Tallahassee water customers are not currently subject to any water use restrictions, but using water wisely is always recommended.

There are many ways you can save water and money. Some suggestions include:

• Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth.
• Fix leaking toilets and faucets.
• Sweep your driveways and sidewalks rather than using a hose to wash them off.
• Use spray nozzles that shut off automatically when not in use on garden hoses.
• Water your lawn in the morning (before 10 a.m.) to take advantage of cooler temperatures and morning dew.
• Avoid watering your lawn in hot or windy conditions.
• Use rain sensors on your irrigation systems to prevent watering when it rains.
• If you suspect a leak in your plumbing system, call a plumber or the City to investigate.

The Florida Department of Health now recommends against community water fluoridation, and in spring 2025, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 700 (SB700), which bans the addition of fluoride in public water systems. Thus, the City no longer adds fluoride to its water system.

In Tallahassee, the average water hardness is measured at about 150 mg/L as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) or about 9 grains/gallon, which is considered "hard." In this area of North Florida, the groundwater flows through a limestone aquifer, which is the source of calcium contributing to the hard water. Due to hard water issues, we often recommend to our customers to maintain their water heaters regularly, whether a tank or tankless type.

The white stains are calcium deposits, also known as "hard water" stains. Because our water comes from a limestone aquifer, there is dissolved calcium in the water. As water evaporates, it leaves behind the calcium, resulting in the stains. Light stains can be removed with simple white vinegar. Heavier stains may require a stronger, more aggressive cleaner.

White flakes or a sand-like sediment in your water can be caused by calcium deposits. This is most commonly found in hot water from the household water heater, and it tends to collect in faucet aerator screens, eventually clogging the screens and restricting the water flow from the faucet. If you are noticing flakes in your hot water or faucet screens, it may be time to service or replace your water heater. The water heater, in the process of heating the water, produces the calcium deposits that settle into the bottom of the water heater tank. If you are noticing flakes in your water, then it is likely a sign that the water heater may be full of calcium deposits. It is a good idea to have your water heater checked for excessive calcium deposits every couple of years to maintain your water heater's capacity and efficiency.

Tallahassee's average pH level for drinking water is about 7.5. The pH level of drinking water reflects how acidic or basic (or alkaline) it is. Measured on a scale of 0 to 14, a pH of 7 is considered neutral, meaning there's a balance between the water's acidity and basicity. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that public water systems maintain pH levels between 6.5-8.5.

A milky or cloudy appearance in water is most often due to tiny air bubbles. These bubbles are often so small that they are not easily seen, but there is an easy way to confirm their presence. Fill a clear glass with water and set it on the counter for a few minutes. If you notice the cloudiness slowly disappearing or rising to the top of the glass, those are signs that the air bubbles are escaping. If you turn on your faucets and flush your pipes, you can sometimes eliminate the air from your plumbing system.

Brown or discolored water is most often caused by rusting water pipes. This is especially common when plumbing uses galvanized iron pipe. Over time, the protective zinc coating on the pipes breaks down, allowing the water to contact the metal. The result is rusty pipes that, when in contact with the water for some time, will eventually cause the water to turn a rusty brown color. This problem is most often noticed in the morning, after the water sits in the pipes while you sleep. The temporary solution is to flush the dirty water from the pipes. The only permanent solution is to replace the plumbing system with more modern plumbing components/materials, such as PVC or PEX.

A blue-green water stain in the tub or shower is most often associated with the corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, including brass (which contains copper and zinc). The corrosion can be due to the water chemistry or improper electrical grounding to the household plumbing. Light stains can be removed with simple white vinegar. Heavier stains may require a stronger, more aggressive cleaner.

Water that smells bad is most often due to a lack of disinfectant in the water. Hot water reduces disinfectants in the water more quickly than cool water. As a result, the smell is most often associated with water from the water heater. This is especially true if the hot water is not used regularly. To remedy the problem, you should run hot water through the tub or a faucet until all the hot water is used and the water is cool. By doing this, you remove the bad smelling water from the water heater and replace it with new water that has the proper disinfectant.

Use cold tap water for drinking and food. Hot water dissolves lead and other metals more quickly and reduces the disinfectant in the water more quickly than cool water. Without disinfectant, bacterial growth can build up in hot water systems. Your exposure to these elements, which may be in your household plumbing, increases when you use hot water for drinking or in a consumable way.

The EPA requires water treatment facilities to maintain chlorine levels within a specific range. If you are sensitive to the taste or smell of chlorine, the following tips may help:

• Let water stand in a pitcher for several hours in the refrigerator or on the counter.
• Boil water for 15 minutes and store in the refrigerator.
• Use a water filter (pitcher, faucet or installed under the sink).

On June 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new health advisory levels to manage the risk for a group of man-made chemicals in drinking water called PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The City ensures your drinking water is safe, the highest in quality and meets all regulatory standards by continually monitoring our drinking water source for identified contaminants of concern as well as new contaminants identified by appropriate regulatory authorities. To learn more about PFAS and the City’s monitoring efforts, visit Talgov.com/PFAS.

Since 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule has established guidelines to minimize lead and copper in drinking water across the United States. The City's delivery of water to customers consistently meets all of these and other regulatory health-based standards. The City of Tallahassee is proud to declare that its drinking water system is lead-free. This has been affirmed through a comprehensive analysis conducted between 2023 and 2025. "Lead-free" means there are no lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or lead status unknown service lines, no known lead connectors and no connectors of unknown material within the City's distribution system. You can learn more about the City’s water distribution system at Talgov.com/WaterServiceLines. Homes and businesses built before the mid-1980s may have plumbing components made with lead or lead-brass alloys, or pipe or fittings joined with solder that contains lead. However, the presence of lead in pipe and plumbing does not necessarily mean that lead will be present in your drinking water. When corrosion occurs in plumbing components that contain lead, it is possible for the material to enter the drinking water. If your home or business was built before 1986 or you have a concern regarding your in-home water quality, have your drinking water tested by an accredited laboratory that is certified to test for lead in drinking water. City of Tallahassee water customers can request an in-home water quality test at no cost. To schedule an in-home water quality test, please call 850-891-1200. To learn more about how you can protect your family from the risks associated with lead exposure, visit epa.gov/lead.

Previous Water Quality Reports are linked below. Federal mandates changed the naming convention for this annual report in 2023. Reports now reflect the year the data was collected, not the year the report is released.

• 2022 Data
• 2023 Data
• 2024 Data