We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Florida to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Hialeah Gardens, Florida
Hialeah Gardens has 28 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 59 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hialeah Gardens water report →Miami, Florida
Miami has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Miami water report →Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Miami Beach water report →North Bay Village, Florida
North Bay Village has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Bay Village water report →West Miami, Florida
West Miami has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Miami water report →Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
Bay Harbor Islands has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bay Harbor Islands water report →Surfside, Florida
Surfside has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Surfside water report →Virginia Gardens, Florida
Virginia Gardens has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Virginia Gardens water report →Medley, Florida
Medley has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Medley water report →North Miami, Florida
North Miami has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Miami water report →Tampa, Florida
Tampa has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Tampa water report →Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 34 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Tarpon Springs water report →Valrico, Florida
Valrico has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Valrico water report →Florida City, Florida
Florida City has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Florida City water report →North Port, Florida
North Port has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Port water report →Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hialeah water report →Lithia, Florida
Lithia has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lithia water report →Sunrise, Florida
Sunrise has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Sunrise water report →Okeechobee, Florida
Okeechobee has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Okeechobee water report →Brandon, Florida
Brandon has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Brandon water report →Apollo Beach, Florida
Apollo Beach has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Apollo Beach water report →Seffner, Florida
Seffner has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Seffner water report →Temple Terrace, Florida
Temple Terrace has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Temple Terrace water report →Pembroke Pines, Florida
Pembroke Pines has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pembroke Pines water report →Titusville, Florida
Titusville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Titusville water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 449 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 27 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 422 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah Gardens | FL | 59 | 28 | 2 | 22,200 |
| 2 | Miami | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 2,300,000 |
| 3 | Miami Beach | FL | 41 | 20 | 1 | 100,000 |
| 4 | North Bay Village | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 8,317 |
| 5 | West Miami | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 8,120 |
| 6 | Bay Harbor Islands | FL | 41 | 20 | 1 | 6,000 |
| 7 | Surfside | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 5,744 |
| 8 | Virginia Gardens | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 2,472 |
| 9 | Medley | FL | 41 | 20 | 2 | 958 |
| 10 | North Miami | FL | 36 | 19 | 2 | 88,349 |
| 11 | Tampa | FL | 31 | 19 | 0 | 717,000 |
| 12 | Tarpon Springs | FL | 34 | 17 | 2 | 28,875 |
| 13 | Valrico | FL | 31 | 17 | 0 | 1,044 |
| 14 | Florida City | FL | 28 | 17 | 2 | 86,000 |
| 15 | North Port | FL | 36 | 16 | 0 | 57,256 |
| 16 | Hialeah | FL | 32 | 16 | 1 | 238,000 |
| 17 | Lithia | FL | 30 | 16 | 0 | 473,500 |
| 18 | Sunrise | FL | 30 | 16 | 2 | 79,550 |
| 19 | Okeechobee | FL | 30 | 16 | 0 | 20,000 |
| 20 | Brandon | FL | 30 | 16 | 0 | 1,001 |
| 21 | Apollo Beach | FL | 30 | 16 | 0 | 995 |
| 22 | Seffner | FL | 30 | 16 | 0 | 152 |
| 23 | Temple Terrace | FL | 28 | 16 | 0 | 31,250 |
| 24 | Pembroke Pines | FL | 32 | 14 | 2 | 187,459 |
| 25 | Titusville | FL | 30 | 14 | 0 | 56,125 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Florida?
Based on 2026 data, Hialeah Gardens, FL has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: March 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
