WHERE DOES YOUR DRINKING WATER COME FROM?

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Have you ever wondered . . . 

  • Where your drinking water comes from?
  • How it gets treated? 
  • How it's delivered to your faucet? 

Your Water Utility

Water Tower at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City
Photo by Donna Kaluzniak

In Florida, about 88% of people get their drinking water (also called potable water) from a utility. 

The rest of the population have their own private wells.

Some utilities provide more than just water. They may also include electric, gas, or sanitation. 

Public water systems (PWS)--are water utilities that are owned by a local government or agency. They serve about 93% of Florida's population. Sometimes the water utility is part of a city or county public works department. 

Florida has nearly 5,000 public water systems, but only about one-third (1,585) are community water systems that provide drinking water to homes year-round. The remaining two-thirds serve businesses, schools, campgrounds, factories, and other nonresidential facilities.

Privately owned utilities may outnumber public utilities,  but these are usually very small or rural systems that serve about 7% of the people in Florida.

Water utilities vary in size from small systems, such as Graceville with a population of 2,236 to huge systems like Miami-Dade County with over 2 million people. 

The name of your utility is usually on your water bill. Most utilities also have a website with information about the water system and a contact list. 

As an example, here are the websites from the small city of Graceville and the huge Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department.

Your water utility is responsible for getting water from the source to a water treatment facility, and then to your home or business. That includes making sure your water meets all the local, state and federal regulations. 

Your Utility's Water Source

Where your water ultimately comes from depends on your location in Florida. You can find out more from your annual water quality report or utility's website.



This infographic from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives a brief summary of the overall process:
EPA Graphic on How Water Systems Work

Geek Out

Florida's Definition of a Public Water System

Under Florida's Safe Drinking Water Act, a public water system is one that:

  • Has at least 15 service connections, or
  • Regularly serves 25 or more people daily for at least 60 days per year.

Public Water Systems are divided into several categories:

  • Community Water Systems (CWS) – Serve the same residents year-round, such as cities, towns, subdivisions, and mobile home parks. These systems provide drinking water to about 90% of Florida's population. Florida has just over 5,000 active public water systems. 
  • Non-Transient Non-Community Systems (NTNCWS) – Regularly serve the same people, but not as residents. Examples include schools, factories, and office complexes with their own wells.
  • Transient Non-Community Systems (TNCWS) – Serve changing populations, such as restaurants, gas stations, campgrounds, parks, and highway rest areas.

    •  Florida's Public Water Systems

    • 💧 5,004 active public water systems
    • 🏘️ 1,597 community systems
    • 🏫 764 schools, factories, and other non-transient systems
    • ⛺ 2,643 transient systems serving travelers and visitors


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