City of Clearwater Water Quality Report

DID YOU KNOW water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs),” are annual documents that all public water systems are required to provide to you via mail and online. These reports are supposed to provide important information about the quality of the drinking water delivered over the previous year.

They can be difficult to read or understand. They are often many pages long and contain complex tables and charts. Culligan Water wants to change this and help you MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER.

This easy-to-read report will provide you with the following:

1) Infrastructure Improvements:
Clearwater’s water treatment plants use advanced methods such as reverse osmosis, chloramine disinfection, and other modern processes to ensure high water quality. These treatments help reduce dissolved minerals, stabilize pH, and limit corrosion in the distribution system. Continuous monitoring and testing confirm that all water delivered to homes meets state and federal safety standards.

2) Water Sources and Usage:
The City of Clearwater receives water from two main sources: groundwater from the Upper Floridan Aquifer and purchased water supplied by Pinellas County Utilities through Tampa Bay Water. Tampa Bay Water’s portfolio includes groundwater, treated surface water from the Alafia and Hillsborough Rivers, the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, and desalinated seawater from Hillsborough Bay. This mix of sources provides consistency, reliability, and safety for Clearwater residents.

3) Disinfection Byproducts:
The 2024 report notes the presence of disinfection byproducts such as chlorine (2.89 ppm), bromate (0.89 ppb), haloacetic acids [HAA5] (28.7 ppb), and total trihalomethanes [TTHM] (68.6 ppb). All levels remain within EPA’s maximum allowable limits. These byproducts form when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in the water.

4) Minerals and Water Quality Highlights:
Clearwater’s water is classified as moderately hard at 178 mg/L (about 10.4 grains per gallon). Key minerals include sodium (79.7 ppm), fluoride (0.64 ppm), calcium (57 mg/L), magnesium (6 mg/L), and sulfate (61 mg/L). Radium 226 + 228 was measured at 1.15 pCi/L, well below regulatory limits. No maximum contaminant level (MCL) violations were reported in 2024.

In 2024, the water quality report for Clearwater recorded water hardness at 178 mg/L (about 10.4 grains per gallon), which classifies the water as hard. While not the highest level in Florida, Clearwater’s hardness is enough to cause everyday issues such as scale buildup on fixtures, mineral deposits in plumbing and appliances, and dry skin or hair. Clearwater’s water hardness has remained fairly steady in recent years, making a water softener or whole-house filtration system a practical investment for homeowners.

Radioactive contaminants can include substances like radium, uranium, and radon. These can enter water supplies through natural deposits or as a result of human activities such as mining. Clearwater’s water testing in 2024 detected the following:

Common contaminants can come from natural sources, industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, or corrosion of plumbing systems. Clearwater’s 2024 report detected the following:

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are formed when disinfectants like chlorine react with natural organic matter in the water. Common DBPs include trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). One thing to note is that while some states have public health goals around all of these contaminants, Florida does not. Therefore, there is no state-mandated goal for contaminants such as HAA5 or TTHM.

For reference, a part per trillion (ppt) is roughly equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools or one second in 32,000 years. These updated interim Health Advisory Levels are below the detection capabilities of current laboratory testing technology. They serve as interim guidance until formal regulations or Maximum Contaminant Levels are established.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly known as ‘Forever Chemicals,’ water contamination impacts residents in many places across the United States. Clearwater lists the following PFAS contaminants:

PFAS contamination is a growing concern across Florida. Installing a reverse osmosis filter is one of the most effective ways to reduce PFAS if present. Florida’s most recent legislation against PFAS requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish specific cleanup levels for PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, and soil by 2025.

On April 10, 2024, the United States government introduced its first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect citizens from PFAS forever chemicals. While this is a major development in the regulation of PFAS, there are over 12,000 types of PFAS, and only six types are being regulated by the EPA.