Copper

Systems reporting it
654
People served
3,113,269
Over the legal limit
1
Action level
1.3 ppm

Overview

Copper usually enters water from corrosion of household plumbing rather than the source. It is measured at the tap. Most people are not affected at the levels found in drinking water.

In Florida, Copper was reported by 654 community water systems serving about 3,113,269 people. 1 of those readings were above the federal legal limit, together serving 44 people.

The highest reading relative to the limit was at Gator Wilderness Camp School in Charlotte County, at 755% of it.

Where it comes from: Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits.

The standards

Action level
1.3 ppm

Enforceable. A utility must stay at or under this.

Federal health goal (MCLG)
1.3 ppm

Health-based, not enforceable. Often lower than the limit, sometimes zero.

California public health goal
0.3 ppm

California OEHHA PHG (2008)

Health effects the EPA associates with it: Stomach and intestinal distress. Liver or kidney damage in people with certain conditions.

Water at or under the legal limit meets federal safety standards. A reading above a health goal is not the same as being unsafe, and health goals are set purely on health without regard to cost or treatability. Both are shown so the margin is visible either way.

Where in Florida

CountySystemsOver limit
Charlotte County231,293 people served101Pinellas County623,152 people served3NoneManatee County406,384 people served2NoneLee County347,239 people served8NoneEscambia County274,000 people served4NoneAlachua County201,696 people served8NoneBroward County194,990 people served4NoneBrevard County171,606 people served11NoneSarasota County117,202 people served6NonePolk County95,030 people served70NoneLake County49,338 people served81NonePalm Beach County48,707 people served4NoneMarion County46,210 people served85NonePasco County46,208 people served26NoneClay County30,515 people served7NoneSanta Rosa County17,821 people served5NoneWakulla County13,999 people served4NoneHillsborough County11,489 people served65NoneOrange County10,625 people served15NoneHardee County10,000 people served5NoneVolusia County9,962 people served23NoneDesoto County9,730 people served5NoneOkaloosa County9,596 people served5NoneDeSoto County8,942 people served1NonePutnam County8,271 people served17NoneSumter County8,180 people served7NoneHighlands County7,964 people served6NoneSeminole County7,941 people served11NoneSt. Lucie County6,998 people served9NoneLevy County5,891 people served9NoneFranklin County5,505 people served2NoneDuval County5,294 people served10NoneTaylor County4,010 people served2NoneJefferson County3,896 people served4NoneSt. Johns County3,862 people served6NoneCitrus County3,850 people served14NoneNassau County3,560 people served5NoneLiberty County3,516 people served4NoneGadsden County3,395 people served2NoneCollier County3,278 people served3NoneWalton County3,171 people served1NoneOsceola County2,908 people served16NoneLeon County2,880 people served7NoneMartin County2,734 people served6NoneSuwannee County2,494 people served5NoneLafayette County2,455 people served2NoneBaker County1,928 people served2NoneColumbia County1,918 people served11NoneBradford County1,901 people served4NoneUnion County1,875 people served1NoneGulf County1,701 people served1NoneFlagler County1,700 people served4NoneJackson County1,624 people served4NoneHernando County1,506 people served4NoneOkeechobee County1,295 people served3NoneGilchrist County1,175 people served1NoneHolmes County1,092 people served2NoneGlades County1,000 people served2NoneHamilton County819 people served1NoneMadison County800 people served1NoneHendry County521 people served2NoneMiami-Dade County485 people served3NoneDixie County300 people served1None

Highest reported levels

Water systemReadingOf limit
Gator Wilderness Camp SchoolPunta Gorda · Charlotte County9.81 ppm755%Terrace Square AptsTampa · Hillsborough County0.89 ppm68%Lighthouse CoveMelbourne Beach · Brevard County0.647 ppm50%Las Colinas Water PlantHowey-In-The-Hills · Lake County0.46 ppm35%Nelson's Fish CampUmatilla · Marion County0.42 ppm32%City of ArcadiaArcadia · DeSoto County0.33 ppm25%Pine Tree Village MHPLutz · Hillsborough County0.3 ppm23%Melbourne, City ofMelbourne · Brevard County0.25 ppm19%DeSoto County UtilitiesArcadia · Desoto County0.22 ppm17%Toscana SubdivisionOrmond Beach · Volusia County0.22 ppm17%Polk City SystemPolk City · Polk County0.219 ppm17%Hope Children's HomeTampa · Hillsborough County0.21 ppm16%The Woodlands on ClayTampa · Hillsborough County0.21 ppm16%Casita BellaHillsborough County0.19 ppm15%Englewood Water DistrictEnglewood · Sarasota County0.184 ppm14%Inlet Beach (Regional Utilities)Inlet Beach0.18 ppm14%Gasparilla Island Water Assoc. (Boca Grande)Placida · Charlotte County0.17 ppm13%City of North Port UtilitiesNorth Port · Sarasota County0.16 ppm12%Lake Marian ShoresKenansville · Osceola County0.15 ppm12%Lake Joanna EstatesEustis · Lake County0.13 ppm10%Ray Mar MHPTampa · Hillsborough County0.13 ppm10%Barrington HOADover · Hillsborough County0.12 ppm9%Lake Suzy Subdivision (DeSoto County Utilities)Lake Suzy · Desoto County0.11 ppm8%Florida Palms Estate LLCAuburndale · Polk County0.11 ppm8%Dade Juvenile Residential FacilityFlorida City · Miami-Dade County0.11 ppm8%

Showing the 25 highest of 654 systems that reported Copper.

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Data Sources

EPA SDWISSystem identity, population, countyret. 2026
FDEPFlorida drinking-water chemical monitoringret. 2026
CCREach utility’s own annual reportret. 2026

These figures describe water as delivered by each utility, not what your home’s plumbing adds after it arrives. Informational; not a substitute for testing your own tap.