Florida is notorious for terrible tap water. Described as swampy with a side of rotten eggs. Ranked among the worst nationwide.

Public water supplies in metropolitan areas of Florida contain their share of potentially hazardous contaminants.

But remarkably, it’s not dangerous toxins that are to blame for common taste complaints — it’s hot weather, a skyrocketing population and unfavorable geology.

Rapid Population Growth

Beneath Florida is an 80,000-mile, multi-state aquifer holding billions of gallons of water. Replenished by rain, restoring the aquifer was rarely an issue in the nation’s fifth-wettest state as long as the weather and demographics remained stable.

But population growth of 300,000-plus annually is taking its toll on the water supply — new wells are being drilled at unprecedented rates. Drought has had an impact, but over-extraction is to blame for draining the aquifer and the natural springs that feed many public water supplies. Combined with the destruction of wetlands to make room for housing, Florida is facing a water crisis.

As water levels in the aquifer drop, the percentage of contaminants rises. What was once clean drinking water now contains higher levels of dissolved substances, such as sulfur and minerals, that give water a rotten egg smell and a bitter, metallic taste.

Geology

Florida’s geology is unique in many ways. A flat state, it has few of the peaks and valleys that serve as physical barriers against contaminants. Water sources are interconnected, so what impacts one affects them all.

Low in elevation, wells, and surface water sources are prone to seawater intrusions that give drinking water a salty taste. And tannins produced by decaying vegetation in swampy areas turns southern Florida tap water yellow. Safe to drink, high concentrations are nonetheless enough to cause a musty smell and off-flavor.

Florida also has a high-water table and a thin soil layer — less than 13 inches in some places — making the state’s groundwater resource extremely vulnerable to contamination from runoff.

Salt water and other solids are coming up in Florida wells far inland from the sea, right up to the state line, and it probably doesn’t stop there. The problem is worse on the coasts and in south Florida, but north central Florida is not immune. Likely culprits would seem to include over pumping.

Central north Florida is an island of fresh groundwater surrounded by entire saline Florida coast around from Alabama plus across to Brunswick, GA, then again from Savannah up past Charleston. South of Lakeland, FL the map is all red for saline.

It’s recommended that you use a filter or some sort of purification system when consuming tap water to reduce potential health risks associated with contaminants that could be lurking in your tap water.

Whole house well water filter system about $2,500