What's in our drinking water & what's not

To ensure local drinking water is safe, Marion County Utilities follows guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Regulations

Currently, approximately 90 contaminants are regulated under National Primary Drinking Water Regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state requires that all chemicals added to drinking water & all system components that come in contact with drinking water be certified under ANSI/NSF Standards 60 & 61. These standards ensure that there are no harmful chemicals inadvertently added to the drinking water supply.

These federal regulations establish enforceable standards called maximum contaminant levels. These standards are established to protect public health & are calculated so that little or no adverse health risk would be expected based on a lifetime average consumption rate of two liters of water per day for 70 years.

In addition, we adhere to additional regulations in various chapters of Marion County's code of ordinances.

Routine testing

We routinely sample county-maintained pubic facilities & water supplies. Households using private wells for water supplies may contact the Florida Department of Health, Marion County to learn more about water testing procedures.

DEP works closely with certified operators, professional engineers & training professionals from the Florida Rural Water Association, all of whom are available to provide technical assistance. These individuals visit hundreds of small drinking water facilities each year to assist in identifying and eliminating potential problems before they affect the facility’s performance.

Resources

Learn more about what water samples found & didn't find in local drinking water at the resources below.

• DEP's information on contaminants of emerging concern
• DEP's drinking water standards

Florida Springs Protection Act

Passed during the 2016 legislative session, the Florida Springs Protection Act affects permits issued on or after July 1, 2018.

Read the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's summary.

Find out more about the Florida Springs Protection Act on the FDEP's website.