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. 

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 Graceville and 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:


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