DRINKING WATER QUALITY TESTING PROGRAMS

The Drinking Water Toxics Program is responsible for coordinating state-wide groundwater sampling for chemical contamination of private drinking water supplies. Contamination monitoring helps protect the public from agricultural chemicals, industrial solvents and heavy metals. The program provides technical consultation to county health officials, state agencies and federal entities regarding human exposures from waterborne contaminants. 

Additional Information on the Drinking Water Toxics Program(pd <1mb)

Data, Maps & Charts

Nitrates and Infants at Risk

Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) in Florida Ground Water (pdf <1mb)

Health Advisory Levels (MCL/HALs) (PDF <1Mb)

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding private wells affected by solvents and agricultural chemical contamination.

Phone list for the Drinking Water Toxics Program

LINKS: (all open in new window)

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reviews of toxic substances

Environmental Protection Agency water program with links to sites with toxicology information

Environmental Protection Agency description of health risks for various drinking water contaminants

Pesticide information from the Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis

Toxicology Information Briefs: Explanations for the reader who is generally unfamiliar with the language and meaning of toxicology or environmental science

TOXNET is a search engine with a cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas, designed for health professions to evaluate health risks

National Library of Medicine?s databases on Toxicology and Environmental Health. Topics include chemical specific information; toxicology tutorials; toll free health hotlines

The Florida Legislature created the State Underground Petroleum Environmental Response Act (SUPER Act) (Chapter 376.3071, Florida Statutes) in response to ground water contamination resulting from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks. The SUPER Act Program is responsible for identifying areas in the state having drinking water contaminated as a result of leaking underground storage tanks, surface spills and other discharges to the environment. This program conducts well surveillance in potentially impacted areas, notifies the public of potential adverse health effects and provides assistance in obtaining alternative sources of drinking water.

Visit FDEP's Water Supply Restoration Program (WSRP) website

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding drinking water wells affected by petroleum contamination.

Phone list for the SUPER Act Program

The Drycleaning Solvent Surveillance Program (DSSP) (Chapter 376.3078, Florida Statutes) is responsible for identifying areas in the state having drinking water contaminated as a result of discharges of solvents used in the drycleaning process. This program conducts well surveillance in potentially impacted areas, notifies the public of potential adverse health effects and provides assistance in obtaining alternative sources of drinking water.

Visit FDEP's Water Supply Restoration Program (WSRP) website

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding drinking water wells affected by drycleaning solvent contamination.

Phone list for the DSSP Program

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DRINKING WATER REGULATORY PROGRAMS

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has delegated this responsibility to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection who has in turn entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). Under this agreement, the Public Drinking Water Systems Program is responsible for the implementation of the SDWA program within ten of the largest counties in Florida (Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Volusia). In these ten counties, the program is responsible for the construction and operation of all public water systems that provide piped water to 15 or more services connections, or serve 25 or more people for 60 days or more per year.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding public drinking water systems.

Phone list for the Drinking Water Systems Program

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA)

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)- Drinking Water Section

Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water

This program regulates Limited Use Public Water Systems (public water systems which are not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act), multi-family water systems, and private water systems.  Definitions for these systems and statutory authorization to regulate them are found in section 381.0062 of the Florida Statutes.  Chapter 64E-8 of the Florida Administrative Code establishes the rules to implement the statutes.  It includes setback standards for private water systems, construction standards for multi-family water systems, and construction and operation standards for limited use public water systems.  The program is implemented at the local level by the county health departments.  

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding public water supplies.

Phone list for the Limited Use Public Water Systems Program (64E-8)

Section 381.0062, Florida Statutes

Chapter 64E-8, Florida Administrative Code

Chapter 64E-8, FAC FORMS.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

For questions regarding the proposed changes, please contact the coordinator, Michelle Kearney.

County Health Departments

The construction of drinking water supply wells is regulated by Chapter 62-532 of the Florida Administrative Code, adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  The rule is typically implemented by the five water management districts that issue the well construction permits.  In some cases, the districts have delegated the permitting program to local agencies, including the following county health departments:  Baker, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Putnam, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Volusia and St. Johns.  In these counties, the health department is the agency that issues drinking well construction permits.  

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding well construction.

Phone list for the Well Construction Program

Chapter 62-532, Florida Administrative Code (pdf <1mb)    

Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Groundwater Section

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Suwannee River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District

Southwest Florida Water Management District

South Florida Water Management District 

The Delineated Contamination Areas Program is a cooperative effort between state agencies under the overall supervision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).  The rules are included in Chapter 62-524 of the Florida Administrative Code.  The FDEP has the responsibility of identifying, or delineating, areas of groundwater contamination.

Where available, all new dwellings and establishments constructed within the delineated areas must connect to a public water supply. However, if such is not available, a permit must be obtained for the construction of a water supply well to serve the residence or establishment.  Stricter construction standards are required by the water management district to minimize potential contamination. The county health departments are responsible for the sampling and clearance of potable water wells constructed in these areas. 

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email us regarding the Delineated Contamination Areas Program.

Phone list for the Delineated Areas Program

Chapter 62-524, Florida Administrative Code (pdf <2mb)    

Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Groundwater Section

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Suwannee River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District

Southwest Florida Water Management District

South Florida Water Management District 

County Health Departments