WHY SHOULD YOU READ YOUR ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT?

 Important Information About Your Drinking Water

Sarasota County Water Quality Report Notice

Every community water system is required to provide annual Water Quality Reports (also called Consumer Confidence Reports) to all customers by July 1 each year. 

These reports may be mailed, or a link to the report may be included on your bill and/or in a local newspaper. Most water utilities also have an easy-to-find link to the report on their website.

If you cannot find your report, contact the utility department and request a copy. 

You may also be able to find a copy on EPA's Consumer Confidence Report website, or you can call EPA's SAFE WATER HOTLINE at 1-800-426-4791.

What Does Your Water Quality Report Tell You?

Your Water Quality Report first gives you basic information about your drinking water:

• The source of your drinking water (which aquifer, river, lake, etc.) and treatment methods
• A summary of Florida DEP's assessment of any potential contamination of the source.
• Contact information for your water utility
• How you can participate in decision-making opportunities at your utility
• A table showing -
• Any regulated contaminants that were detected and the amount
• Whether the detected amount exceeded the maximum contaminant level
• The likely source of contamination
• The time period monitored
• Explanations and health effects of contaminants.
• Educational information on upcoming water issues such as lead line replacements.

The sample below shows a section of the table that would be part of the report:

How Can You Use This Information?

Understand the Basics About Your Water System:

The report will describe where your water comes from and a description or diagram explaining how it is treated. 

Understand Water Testing Results: 

It's good to review the test results, and contact your utility if you have questions.

Water treatment plants test for over 90 contaminants in the drinking water. Only those that are detected are shown in the table. 

Most contaminants that are tested for are not found in the treated water. 

Of contaminants that are detected, most (usually all) are below the maximum contaminant level. The maximum contaminant level (MCL)  is the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. 

You would have already received a notification for any result exceeding the MCL at the time the contaminant was found.

Opportunity to Participate in Decision Making:

Decisions on water,-related projects, budgets, rates and more typically happen at water utility board or city council meetings. 

Water engineering and construction projects cost millions of dollars. 

Treatment plant equipment, wells, pump stations, pipelines and more are costly to maintain, repair and replace. 

While the final decision on these issues are up to the board or council members, you have the opportunity to provide your concerns and opinions. 

You can also stay in-the-know about plans and issues that affect you.

2025 Water Quality Reports

Here are a few 2025 Water Quality Reports from Florida, so you can see how they're presented. Some are fancier and some are bare bones. Some large cities have multiple grids that require separate reports. All must have the information required by law.

City of Tallahasse Water Quality Report

JEA

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

City of Tampa

City of Jacksonville Beach

Geek Out

Check out EPA's brochure: Understanding Your Water Quality Report

The Center for Disease Control also has a web page on How to Read Your Drinking Water Quality Reports.

Here is EPA's Quick Reference Guide on the Consumer Confidence Report rule.