Orlando’s drinking water is considered generally safe to drink. However, studies show the city’s tap water can contain up to 16 contaminants that have been linked to health risks.

If you’re concerned about the quality of your Orlando home’s tap water, United Air Temp offers water treatment solutions that ensure your water is safe to drink.

You won’t have to worry about constantly buying bottled water. Our dependable and effective water quality systems allow you to enjoy fresh water from every tap in your home.

Where Does Orlando’s Water Come From?

Orlando’s primary water source is the Lower Floridan Aquifer, a protected reservoir below ground.

The aquifer is fed by rainwater, which goes through a natural filtration process as it makes its way down through hundreds of feet of rock and sand.

The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) pumps water from the aquifer to various facilities where it’s treated to meet safe drinking water standards.

How Does City Water Testing & Treatment Work?

Once water from the aquifer is fed through ozone contact basins, it’s treated with chlorine and fluoride, pumped into a finished water storage tank, and distributed.

• Ozone oxidizes the water’s hydrogen sulfide to improve taste, eliminate odors, and reduce the amount of chlorine added to the water, a process mandated by Florida law.
• Fluoride is added to promote dental health.
• Sodium hydroxide adjusts the water’s pH and prevents copper and lead from leaching into the water supply.

A state-certified water lab performs thousands of annual chemical and bacteriological water quality tests for over 135 regulated and unregulated substances, including lead and copper. Test results are typically well below state and federal allowable levels.

What Harmful Contaminants Are in Orlando’s Drinking Water?

While Orlando’s drinking water meets legal safety standards, understanding these contaminants and their effects is crucial for making informed decisions about your water consumption.

Lead

Lead and copper in drinking water often come from corroded plumbing pipes.

Decades of studies show that even low levels of lead in drinking water can pose significant health risks, including developmental problems and cognitive impairment, particularly to children and pregnant women.

Orlando’s municipal water system does not use lead pipes. However, many older structures still have lead piping.

Arsenic

Arsenic-tainted water typically comes from natural deposits or industrial activities.

Although Orlando’s water has low levels of arsenic, long-term exposure could lead to skin damage and increased cancer risk. The city’s treatment process aims to keep arsenic levels within safe limits.

PFAS

These synthetic chemicals are found in various consumer products and can accumulate in the environment and human body.

Orlando’s tap water contains trace levels of PFAS, which are linked to health issues like thyroid disorder, a compromised immune system, and developmental issues. Continuous monitoring is crucial to managing PFAS levels in water.

Disinfection Byproducts

Disinfectants are used to kill pathogens in municipal water. When they come into contact with natural organic matter, the byproducts they produce can heighten the risk of cancer and affect liver, kidney, and central nervous system functions.

Orlando monitors and controls all these known risks. However, people with specific health concerns or living in older properties should consider installing whole-home water treatment and purification systems.

How Is Well Water Regulated?

Few Orlando homeowners get their water from wells. However, those who do may not realize it’s their responsibility to monitor, maintain, and test the water to ensure it’s safe to drink.

Orlando does regulate limited-use community and commercial wells serving fewer than 25 people. The systems provide potable water from wells that are routinely tested for bacteriological, pesticide, petroleum, and lead content.

Common contaminants in well water include:

• Pesticides that can pose long-term health risks. Well water contaminated by weed, insect, or rodent killers has long-lasting effects on groundwater.
• Nitrates come from natural sources. However, high nitrate levels are usually caused by human actions.
• E. coli bacteria can cause life-threatening illnesses like kidney failure.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are manufactured chemicals. Short-term exposure can cause nausea and skin irritation, while long-term exposure has been linked to conditions like nervous system problems and cancer.

Well water is naturally filtered through underground aquifers, but we still recommend annual well water testing to ensure you have a safe water supply.

Why Choose UAT for Water Quality Solutions?

United Air Temp is your source for plumbing services in the Orlando area, including installing whole-home water purifiers that ensure water is free from contaminants, particulates, and chemicals.

We provide the solutions you need to ensure your home’s water is suitable for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more. Our trustworthy plumbers will test your water quality and provide free estimates if you need water quality solutions.

Call (407) 554-9293 to request water filtration and purification for your Orlando home.