Is Palm Coast’s Water Safe to Drink?

Yes. Palm Coast’s drinking water meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements. The City conducts regular testing throughout the water system and reports results to state regulators under federal EPA regulations to ensure compliance and protect public health.

Water testing

• Continuous monitoring 365 days a year
• Over 100 sampling locations are tested monthly
• Independent certified labs perform analyses
• Compliance: meets state and federal primary drinking water regulatory requirements
• Annual Water Quality Report

System Improvements Underway

Palm Coast is investing $500+ million in upgrades, including expanding treatment plant capacity, rehabilitating and expanding raw water and well systems, optimizing treatment processes, balancing supply and demand, upgrading technology, and enhancing water quality.

What are Secondary Standards?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets National Primary Drinking Water Regulations that establish legally enforceable limits for contaminants in drinking water. These limits are called maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs, and are designed to protect public health. An MCL is the highest amount of a contaminant allowed in drinking water delivered to customers.

The EPA also sets National Secondary Drinking Water Standards, which are not enforceable. These standards apply to 15 contaminants and focus on water quality characteristics such as taste, color, and odor. The associated limits, called secondary maximum contaminant levels, or SMCLs, are guidelines only and are not related to health risks at those levels.

Learn More

• Drinking Water Regulations: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/drinking-water-regulations
• National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations
• National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/secondary-drinking-water-standards-guidance-nuisance-chemicals

DEP Water Testing Results

The City of Palm Coast collects hundreds of water quality samples each month, and performs required quarterly, annual, and tri-annual samples per FDEP regulations. All results are published online and available for public review at any time. Below, you’ll find how to access these reports and a simple guide to understanding the results.