June 18, 2025 4 min read
Known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World,” Orlando is home to major theme parks, including Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Legoland. Because of its draw for family fun, over 74 million tourists visit Orlando each year (1). With an extreme number of tourists and employees needed to keep the parks running smoothly, it is crucial to understand the water quality of the drinking water in Orlando.
Orlando’s water supply stems from a groundwater source. The Lower Floridan aquifer resides nearly a quarter-mile below the Earth’s surface, and its main supplier of water comes from rainwater that seeps slowly into the aquifer, naturally being filtered as it descends deeper into the Earth’s crust (2). Water from the aquifer is pumped up through well pumps to serve 200 square miles of service area.
By both state and federal guidelines, tap water in Orlando is safe to drink and meets or exceeds all governmental requirements for safe drinking water. Additionally, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) goes above and beyond by implementing a corrosion-control treatment for pipes vulnerable to lead and copper corrosion. The OUC also actively fights against PFAS contamination, complying with unregulated rules concerning these “forever chemicals” and participating in a lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers (3).
Despite Orlando drinking water meeting all state and federal requirements, some people still fear the contaminants that are left in their water–those that are allowed under state and federal regulations. Attached are a few of the most prevalent contaminants still lurking in Orlando drinking water, along with their potential health risks and how to remove them from your water.
Disinfection byproducts is a term used to refer to substances that are created when chlorine reacts with water during the disinfection process. Two of the main byproducts formed are total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5s). The EPA has linked TTHMs to liver, kidney, and colon cancer if consumed in large amounts. There is even less knowledge of the health effects of HAA5s, and while they are believed to be acarcinogen, research on both substances is ongoing, especially in regards to its health effects on people if ingested in low doses over time (4).
The current limit set on haloacetic acids is 60 parts per billion. Levels detected in Orlando’s drinking water range from 9.66 to 45.07 parts per billion, with an average of 33.02 parts per billion. The current limit set on total trihalomethanes is 80 parts per billion, with Orlando’s drinking water ranging from 18.87 to 73.85 parts per billion, the latter edging dangerously close to the EPA set limit. The average of TTHMs found in Orlando’s water falls at 66.29 parts per billion.
There are multiple methods that can be used to filter disinfection byproducts from your water. Ultraviolet absorption is an effective way to limit TTHMs and HAA5s, but the process is not commonly applied to water filtration (5). Biological filters are also effective in removing these contaminants, but they do not purify the water as a whole, since they rely on adding beneficial bacteria to the water to kill other contaminants (6). For filters designed for drinking water, there are 2 real options: reverse osmosis (RO) or finding a filter that specifically references removing disinfection byproducts. RO filters will reduce all contaminant levels in your water, they just typically are costly to install and maintain (7). For a more affordable option, Seychelle’s Gen 2 Dual Regular Water Pitcher is designed specifically to remove harmful chemical contaminants, including total trihalomethanes. Seychelle products are independently lab-tested both nationally and internationally, ensuring you can drink water free of potentially harmful disinfection byproducts.
The Vermont Department of Health definesgross alpha radiation as “a type of energy released when certain radioactive elements decay or break down” (8). It is a general term used to group together most radionuclides, with the exception of a few (uranium, radium, and radon) that are regulated separately. If ingested, gross alpha emitters are toxic and can pose harmful health effects (9). While ingesting smaller levels of gross alpha radiation poses no immediate risks, gross alpha radiation may increase your chances of cancer, so it is recommended to treat water that contains gross alpha, even if it is detected in levels under the set limit (8).
The maximum contaminant level for gross alpha emitters is currently set at 15pCi/L. Ranges of alpha emitters found in Orlando’s drinking water range from 0 to 3.5pCi/L, with an average level detected of 3.5pCi/L.
As is the case with disinfection byproducts, not just any water filter will remove radioactive contaminants from your water. Both reverse osmosis filters and water softeners have been found to reduce the level of radiological contaminants in water (8). Seychelle’s Radiological Water Pitcher is another good choice to remove radiological contaminants, and it is tested to remove up to 99.99% of gross alpha radiation for your water in the matter of minutes.
Orlando water is safe to drink by both state and federal standards for clean water. The Orlando Utilities Commission goes above and beyond to ensure their water is free of lead and PFAS, two of the most common contaminants that can be found in drinking water. That being said, there are measures people can take if they would like to remove other contaminants from Orlando’s tap water, including investing in a water filter. If you want a water filter you can trust, shop Seychelle.
Is it okay to drink tap water in Orlando?
Yes. Orlando’s tap water meets all state and federal requirements for clean drinking water.
Is Orlando water safe to drink after a hurricane?
In the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, it is recommended to wait until water utility companies have the opportunity to test the water to ensure it is safe to drink before consuming it.
Where does Orlando water come from?
Orlando water comes from the Lower Floridan Aquifer, a groundwater source lying a quarter mile under the Earth’s surface.
References
Orlando Utilities Commission,https://www.ouc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2024_Water-Quality-Report.pdf
Orange County Government Florida,https://www.orangecountyfl.net/WaterGarbageRecycling/PFAS.aspx
National Library of Medicine,
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/documents/dbpr_plain_english_guide_final_508.pdf
Lou, Jie, et. al.,National Library of Medicine,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320856/
Wang Lei, et. al.,National Library of Medicine,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30056322/
Vermont Department of Health,https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/gross-alpha-radiation-uranium-and-radium-drinking-water#:~:text=It%20is%20not%20a%20hazard,the%20risk%20of%20kidney%20damage.
Minnesota Department of Health,https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/risk/docs/guidance/dwec/radionpostsetac.pdf#:~:text=Alpha%2Demitting%20radionuclides%2C%20such%20as%20polonium%2D210%20and%20radium%2D,drinking%20water%20standards%20currently%20regulate%20alpha%2Demitting%20radionuclides.