Orange County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead

Orange County, Florida has about 1,533,646 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 45 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Orlando Utilities Commission, serving about 536,466 people from groundwater.

✓ 0 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 1 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 7.5 gpg (high confidence)

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 Orange County water?

Orlando Utilities Commission Measured (utility report, page read 2026-10-21 (utility FAQ)) · High confidence

7.5 gpg (129 mg/L), hard

Source: ORLANDO UTILITIES COMMISSION water quality report (utility FAQ page), page read 2026-10-21 (utility FAQ)

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.

Softener size at 7.5 gpg

For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 8,978 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain.

Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

Open the softener calculator with 7.5 gpg

Largest water systems in Orange County

The 6 biggest of 45 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.

Orlando Utilities Commission

FL3480962 · serves about 536,466 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Ocud/Eastern Water System (2 Wp)

FL3484132 · serves about 293,374 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 0.9 ppb (period starting 2025-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Ocud/Western Regional Wtr Sys (5 Wps)

FL3481546 · serves about 206,742 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 0.8 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFOS: highest sample 5 ppt (3 of 10 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average

EPA ECHO record

Cftod Central (4 Wps)

FL3484093 · serves about 136,500 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 1.3 ppb (period starting 2025-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Winter Park, City of (3 Wps)

FL3481482 · serves about 82,984 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 1.4 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Ocud/Southern Water Sys (5 Wps)

FL3484119 · serves about 80,738 people · Groundwater

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

Lead 90th percentile: 1.6 ppb (period starting 2025-01-01). 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 Orange County water

Is tap water in Orange County safe to drink?

None of the 6 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Orlando Utilities Commission's most recent lead 90th percentile was 2 ppb (2023), 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 Orange County?

Orlando Utilities Commission reports about 7.5 grains per gallon (129 mg/L), which is hard. For a 3-person home at 7.5 gpg, our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.

Is there PFAS in Orange County water?

1 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and one result was above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.

Which water system serves my address in Orange County?

Most homes are served by Orlando Utilities Commission 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.