What was found in Gainesville's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 430 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2800 µg/L — ARREDONDO ESTATES · 738 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 730 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 63.67 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 25 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 14.8 µg/L — WESTGATE MANOR MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 14.025 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3.31 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 12.395 µg/L — GATOR WATERWORKS · 800 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 9.03 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 0.5000 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 8.87 µg/L — ARREDONDO ESTATES · 738 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 5.52045 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: ARREDONDO ESTATES · 738 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.5 µg/L — ARREDONDO ESTATES · 738 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 8.3% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 3.33 µg/L — ARREDONDO ESTATES · 738 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.5000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 3.2 µg/L — WESTGATE MANOR MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.7 pCi/L 11% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: WESTGATE MANOR MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.6900 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 0.9000 µg/L — GATOR WATERWORKS · 800 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.1000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.00070 mg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GRU - MURPHREE WTP · 195,768 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0061 mg/L — PALMS OF ARCHER · 1,092 people · 2024 | 5/5 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Gainesville
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GRU - MURPHREE WTP | 195,768 |
| PALMS OF ARCHER | 1,092 |
| GATOR WATERWORKS | 800 |
| ARREDONDO ESTATES | 738 |
| WESTGATE MANOR MHP | 300 |
Frequently asked questions about Gainesville tap water
Is Gainesville tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Gainesville. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Gainesville?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Gainesville, Florida to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Gainesville's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Gainesville include Nitrate, Fluoride, TTHM, Nitrite, Chromium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.