Manatee County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead

Manatee County, Florida has about 458,352 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 7 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Manatee County Utilities Dept, serving about 347,800 people from surface water.

! 1 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 2 of 4 sampled systemsHardness 106–279 mg/L, varies by area

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

How hard is Manatee County water?

Manatee County Utilities Dept Measured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence

106–279 mg/L (varies by area; no single average published)

Source: MANATEE COUNTY UTILITIES DEPT water quality report, 2025

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

At this hardness most homes don't need a softener. Confirm with a test strip if you see scale.

Largest water systems in Manatee County

The 6 biggest of 7 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.

Manatee County Utilities Dept

FL6411132 · serves about 347,800 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 1.7 ppb (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Bradenton City of

FL6410182 · serves about 58,584 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (4 types)

Lead 90th percentile: 0.2 ppb (period starting 2025-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 8.5 ppt (3 of 4 samples); no federal limit
  • PFPeA: highest sample 8.5 ppt (3 of 4 samples); no federal limit
  • PFHxA: highest sample 6.5 ppt (3 of 4 samples); no federal limit
  • PFBS: highest sample 5.2 ppt (3 of 4 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit

EPA ECHO record

City of Palmetto Water Dept.

FL6410322 · serves about 13,446 people · Surface water

! 1 health-based violation✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 1.8 ppb (period starting 2024-07-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Town of Longboat Key

FL6411098 · serves about 7,098 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: 0.9 ppb (period starting 2024-07-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 5.5 ppt (1 of 12 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Heather Hills Estates

FL6412533 · serves about 700 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS: not sampled

Lead 90th percentile: 1 ppb (period starting 2020-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Sunny Shore Water Company

FL6412418 · serves about 450 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS: not sampled

Lead 90th percentile: 1 ppb (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.

Test your own tap

These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.

Common questions about Manatee County water

Is tap water in Manatee County safe to drink?

1 of the 6 largest systems here have at least one health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021 (see each system below for status). Manatee County Utilities Dept's most recent lead 90th percentile was 1.7 ppb (2022), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.

How hard is the water in Manatee County?

Manatee County Utilities Dept reports hardness from 106 to 279 mg/L depending on where you live, with no single system-wide average, so check your area in its report or test your water.

Is there PFAS in Manatee County water?

2 of the 4 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.

Which water system serves my address in Manatee County?

Most homes are served by Manatee County Utilities Dept or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.

More Florida counties

Sources for this page

Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.