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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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City of Sanford

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility Details

  • Sanford, Florida
  • Serves: 70,576
  • Data available: 2013-2020*
  • Source: Groundwater

    • * 2013 testing is for chemicals in EPA's Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-3) only. 2020/2021 testing is for chemicals in EPA's Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-4) only.

Contaminants Detected

5

EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES

17 Total Contaminants

  • Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
  • Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
  • The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.

What To Do

Filter contaminants out Contact Your Local Official What About Lead?

PFAS Detected (UCMR-5 Update)

The Environmental Protection Agency in August 2023 released a set of public water system testing data for the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, as required by its Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR5. The EPA released the following results.

Contaminants Detected Table*

PFAS NAME DETECTS/SAMPLES % DETECTED RANGE OF
SAMPLE(S)		 DATE(S) OF
SAMPLES		 PROPOSED
LEGAL LIMIT
PFHxA1 / 250%0.0 - 3.0 ppt06/07/2023 - 07/26/2023
PFHxS1 / 250%0.0 - 3.1 ppt06/07/2023 - 07/26/2023Hazard Index
PFPeA1 / 250%0.0 - 4.9 ppt06/07/2023 - 07/26/2023

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Contaminants Detected

VIEW: EXCEED GUIDELINES OTHER DETECTED

Arsenic

Potential Effect: cancer6.7x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.0267 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.004 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppb
DETAILS
X

Arsenic

more about
this contaminant

Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and common contaminant in drinking water. Arsenic causes thousands of cases of cancer each year in the U.S. Click here to read more about arsenic.

Arsenic was found at 6.7 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.004 ppb or less

This Utility

0.0267 ppb

Legal Limit

10 ppb

National Average

0.647 ppb

State Average

0.467 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

VIEW MORE TESTING DATA

Pollution Sources

Agriculture

Industry

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

Reverse Osmosis

Ion Exchange

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)†

Potential Effect: cancer114x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY11.4 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.1 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT60 ppb
DETAILS
X

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

more about
this contaminant

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) was found at 114 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

11.4 ppb

Legal Limit

60 ppb

National Average

17.1 ppb

State Average

19.4 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

VIEW MORE TESTING DATA

Pollution Sources

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Haloacetic acids (HAA9)†

Potential Effect: cancer505x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY30.3 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.06 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Haloacetic acids (HAA9)

more about
this contaminant

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of nine haloacetic acids includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid, which are regulated as a group by the federal government (HAA5); and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) was found at 505 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.06 ppb or less

This Utility

30.3 ppb

National Average

23.7 ppb

State Average

26 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2021.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for the group of nine haloacetic acids, or HAA9, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level as . This health guideline protects against cancer.

VIEW MORE TESTING DATA

Pollution Sources

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Radium, combined (-226 & -228)

Potential Effect: cancer13x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.66 pCi/L
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.05 pCi/L
LEGAL LIMIT5 pCi/L
DETAILS
X

Radium, combined (-226 & -228)

more about
this contaminant

Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing can elevate concentrations.

Radium, combined (-226 & -228) was found at 13 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.05 pCi/L or less

This Utility

0.66 pCi/L

Legal Limit

5 pCi/L

National Average

0.46 pCi/L

State Average

0.58 pCi/L
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2014-2019.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter

Health Risks

EWG applied the health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L, defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal for radium-226, to radium-226 and radium-228 combined. This health guideline protects against cancer.
VIEW MORE TESTING DATA

Pollution Sources

Industry

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

Reverse Osmosis

Ion Exchange

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)†

Potential Effect: cancer279x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY41.9 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.15 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT80 ppb
DETAILS
X

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

more about
this contaminant

Trihalomethanes are cancer-causing contaminants that form during water treatment with chlorine and other disinfectants. The total trihalomethanes group includes four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) was found at 279 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.15 ppb or less

This Utility

41.9 ppb

Legal Limit

80 ppb

National Average

29.7 ppb

State Average

32.7 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The health guideline of 0.15 parts per billion, or ppb, for the group of four trihalomethanes, or THM4/TTHM, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-one-million lifetime cancer risk level.
VIEW MORE TESTING DATA

Pollution Sources

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) program in 2017 to 2020 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; radiological contaminants detected between 2014 and 2019.

† HAA5 is a contaminant group that includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. HAA9 is a contaminant group that includes the chemicals in HAA5 and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid and tribromoacetic acid. TTHM is a contaminant group that includes bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform and dibromochloromethane.

Other Contaminants Tested

✕

Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2014 to 2019:

1,1,1-Trichloroethane , 1,1,2-Trichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethylene , 1,2,3-Trichloropropane , 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) , 1,2-Dichloroethane , 1,2-Dichloropropane , 1,3-Butadiene , 1-butanol , 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) , 2,4-D , 2-methoxyethanol , 2-propen-1-ol , Alachlor (Lasso) , Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane , Antimony , Atrazine , Benzene , Benzo[a]pyrene , Beryllium , Bromochloromethane , Bromomethane , Butylated hydroxyanisole , Cadmium , Carbofuran , Carbon tetrachloride , Chlordane , Chlorodifluoromethane , Chloromethane , Chlorpyriphos , cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Cobalt , Combined uranium , Cyanide , Dalapon , Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate , Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate , Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) , Dimethipin , Dinoseb , Diquat , Endothall , Endrin , Ethoprop , Ethylbenzene , Ethylene dibromide , Germanium , Glyphosate , Heptachlor , Heptachlor epoxide , Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) , Hexachlorocyclopentadiene , Lindane , Mercury (inorganic) , Methoxychlor , Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene) , Nitrite , o-Dichlorobenzene , o-toluidine , Oxamyl (Vydate) , Oxyflurofen , p-Dichlorobenzene , Pentachlorophenol , Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) , Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) , Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) , Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) , Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) , Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) , Permethrin , Picloram , Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) , Profenofos , Quinoline , Selenium , Silver , Simazine , Styrene , Tebuconazole , Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) , Thallium , Toluene , Toxaphene , trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Tribufos , Trichloroethylene , Vinyl chloride , Xylenes (total)

City of Sanford compliance with legally mandated federal standards:

  • From April 2019 to March 2021, City of Sanford complied with health-based drinking water standards.
  • 2 QUARTERS
    in violation of any federal drinking water standard from April 2019 to March 2021
  • Over the last 3 years this water utility has spent
    1 QUARTER
    in significant violation of federal drinking water standards

Information in this section on City of Sanford comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UTILITY

Water Filters That Can Reduce Contaminant Levels

ContaminantActivated Carbonactivated carbonReverse Osmosisreverse osmosisIon Exchangeion exchange
CONTAMINANTS ABOVE
HEALTH GUIDELINES
Arsenic✔✔
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)✔✔
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)✔✔
Radium, combined (-226 & -228)✔✔
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)✔✔
OTHER CONTAMINANTS
DETECTED
1,4-Dioxane✔
Aluminum✔
Barium✔✔
Chlorate
Chromium (hexavalent)✔✔
Chromium (total)✔✔
Fluoride✔
Manganese✔
Molybdenum✔✔
Nitrate✔✔
Strontium✔✔
Vanadium✔

Take Action

Contact Your Local Official

One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.

LEARN MORE

Filter Out Contaminants

Check out our recommendations for filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.

EWG’S WATER FILTER GUIDE
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