Is Miami tap water safe?

We don't give a safe or unsafe verdict. Here is what the public records show for Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department: 5 of 36 detected contaminants were above the health guidelines we use (2018-2024), no health-based violations were recorded since July 1, 2021 (EPA SDWIS), and the Water Score is 50/100. These records can be one to three years old and may not reflect the water at your tap. Its PFOA or PFOS results averaged above 4.0 ppt, the level EPA set in 2024 (not yet enforceable). Details are in the full report. Our systems aren't certified for PFAS. That isn't a clean bill of health or a health finding. EPA's national files don't hold sample results for most regulated contaminants. For health questions, ask your utility or your doctor.

33138 Miami water quality

Data updated October 24, 2026

Water Score · Weak

Miami-Dade Water & Sewer

ZIP 33138 · Miami

Based on EPA SDWA, EPA UCMR and Florida DEP data, 2018-2024. Based on public utility data, not a test of your tap. Not medical advice.

Drinking glasses with cloudy spots — **Spots on glasses**

A faucet crusted with white buildup — **Crusty faucets**

Shower glass with a cloudy film — **Film on the shower**

A glass of tap water at a kitchen sink — **Tastes like a pool**

These show common South Florida water issues.

Arsenic425× the health guideline

Bromodichloromethane143× the health guideline

Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

+3 more in the full report

Bars use a log scale. Source: EPA SDWA, EPA UCMR and Florida DEP data

About ZIP 33138

Ranked #183 of 286 Florida ZIP codes by Water Score, as of October 24, 2026. Ranked #25 of 128 Miami-Dade County ZIP codes by Water Score, as of October 24, 2026.

Housing units: 14,384 (Census ACS 2024 5-year)
Owner / renter: 48% / 52%
Single-family homes: 47%
Buildings with 5+ units: 44%
Median home value: $686,300 (Census ACS 2023 5-year)
Median household income: $71,518 (Census ACS 2023 5-year)
Households: 12,544 (Census ACS 2023 5-year)
Owner-occupied share: 50% (Census ACS 2023 5-year)

ZCTA, approximates ZIP

Who supplies the water

ZIP 33138 is served by one utility: Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (68%).

A neighboring ZIP code, 33150 (Miami), is served mainly by the same utility, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department. Its Water Score is also 50/100.

Your utility at a glance

Utility: Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department
EPA water system ID (PWSID): FL4130871
People served: 2,377,460
Water source: Ground water
Water quality report (CCR): Utility's 2025 water quality report
Health-based violations: None recorded (EPA SDWIS, July to September 2026, since July 1, 2021)

How this ZIP compares

See the full report

ZIP 33138Likely match

Water report for Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department, ZIP 33138

Miami, Miami-Dade County

Data updated October 24, 2026

According to EPA water system boundaries, ZIP 33138 (Miami, Miami-Dade County) is served mainly by Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department, which does not buy water from another system, according to EPA SDWA records. In EPA SDWA, EPA UCMR and Florida DEP data from 2018-2024, 5 of 36 detected contaminants are above published health guidelines; PFOA and PFOS averaged above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031). The Water Score is 50 out of 100, in the Weak band. Scored against health guidelines that are stricter than legal limits, using public utility data. Not a test of your tap.

ZIP codes can cross utility lines. Your water bill names your utility.

Water Score

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Every result, with its health guideline and legal limit

Each bar is the level reported for ZIP 33138. It is drawn against its own health guideline, so rows are not comparable with each other. The ink line is the health guideline, with its publisher named on each row, and the dashed line is EPA's legal limit or, for PFAS, the level in EPA's 2024 rule. Log scale: each step right is ten times more.

Arsenic1.7 ppb
Health guideline 0.004 ppb (California OEHHA 2004)Legal limit 10 ppb425× the health guideline
average of all samples
highest sample 2.1 ppb
detected in 3 of 3 samples
Bromodichloromethane8.59 ppb
Health guideline 0.06 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)Legal limit Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)143× the health guideline
average of all samples
highest sample 22 ppb
detected in 83 of 88 samples
Dibromochloromethane4.75 ppb
Health guideline 0.1 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)Legal limit Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)48× the health guideline
average of all samples
highest sample 13.1 ppb
detected in 63 of 88 samples
Chloroform

Under EPA's 2024 PFAS rule, water systems must meet the PFOA and PFOS limits (4.0 ppt each) by April 2029; in May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. Results before then are monitoring data, not violations.

What was found

Above published health guidelines (5)

Guideline basis: long-term cancer risk

Arsenic

Far above guideline

425×the health guideline

This utility: 1.7 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 2.1 ppbdetected in 3 of 3 samples
Legal limit: 10 ppb
Health guideline: 0.004 ppb

Arsenic: a natural element that enters water from rock and soil deposits and from some orchard and industrial runoff. California OEHHA set a 0.004 ppb public health goal in 2004 to limit lung and bladder cancer risk; EPA's enforceable limit is 10 ppb (in effect since 2006). Source: California OEHHA

Guideline basis: long-term cancer risk

Bromodichloromethane

Far above guideline

143×the health guideline

This utility: 8.59 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 22 ppbdetected in 83 of 88 samples
Legal limit: Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Health guideline: 0.06 ppb

Bromodichloromethane: a disinfection by-product that forms when chlorine reacts with organic matter. California OEHHA set a 0.06 ppb public health goal to limit long-term cancer risk. Source: California OEHHA

Guideline basis: long-term cancer risk

Dibromochloromethane

Far above guideline

48×the health guideline

This utility: 4.75 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 13.1 ppbdetected in 63 of 88 samples
Legal limit: Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Health guideline: 0.1 ppb

Dibromochloromethane: a disinfection by-product that forms when chlorine reacts with organic matter. California OEHHA set a 0.1 ppb public health goal in 2020 to limit long-term cancer risk; it also counts toward EPA's 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes. Source: California OEHHA

Guideline basis: long-term cancer risk

Chloroform

Far above guideline

45×the health guideline

This utility: 18.1 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 36 ppbdetected in 87 of 87 samples
Legal limit: Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Health guideline: 0.4 ppb

Chloroform: a disinfection by-product that forms when chlorine reacts with organic matter. California OEHHA set a 0.4 ppb public health goal in 2020 to limit long-term cancer risk; it also counts toward EPA's 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes. Source: California OEHHA

Guideline basis: long-term cancer risk

Bromoform

Above guideline

1.1×the health guideline

This utility: 0.56 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 1.9 ppbdetected in 40 of 88 samples
Legal limit: Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Health guideline: 0.5 ppb

Bromoform: a disinfection by-product that forms when chlorine reacts with organic matter. California OEHHA set a 0.5 ppb public health goal in 2020 to limit long-term cancer risk; it also counts toward EPA's 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes. Source: California OEHHA

Average above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031)

Our systems aren't certified for PFAS.

Average above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031)
Contaminant	This utility	Legal limit or action level	Health guideline	Years
PFOSEPA's 2024 rule sets a limit of 4.0 ppt; water systems must meet it by April 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. EPA's goal (MCLG) is zero.	14.2 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 33 pptdetected in 6 of 8 samples	4 ppt	None published	2023-2024
PFOAEPA's 2024 rule sets a limit of 4.0 ppt; water systems must meet it by April 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. EPA's goal (MCLG) is zero.	5.4 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 14 pptdetected in 6 of 8 samples	4 ppt	None published	2023-2024

The level shown is the average of all of the utility's results in the years shown, with results below EPA's reporting level counted as zero. The highest single result and the number of samples in which it was detected are shown with each level. Each of these averaged above 4.0 ppt across all of the utility's samples, with results below the reporting level counted as zero. EPA judges compliance on a running annual average at each sampling point, so our combined average is a guide, not a compliance result. Under EPA's 2024 PFAS rule, water systems must meet the PFOA and PFOS limits (4.0 ppt each) by April 2029; in May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. Results before then are monitoring data, not violations.

Public data from EPA UCMR 5, 2023–2024. It isn't a test of your tap, and your water can differ. Last checked against the Federal Register: October 25, 2026.

Lead

Lead: 3.1 ppb (90th percentile of tap samples, January to December 2023). EPA action level (90th percentile): 15 ppb.

Lead is measured at the tap in homes selected because they are most likely to have lead plumbing. EPA says lead in drinking water mainly comes from pipes, solder and fixtures in service lines and buildings, not from the water source. Your home's plumbing matters more than the utility's number. EPA's goal (MCLG) for lead is zero.

California's public health goal for lead is 0.2 ppb.

If your home is older or may have a lead service line, ask your utility (it must keep a service-line inventory) or have your tap tested by a state-certified lab.

Other contaminants detected (28)

Other contaminants detected, within their health guidelines or without one
Contaminant	This utility	Legal limit or action level	Health guideline	Years
Fluoride	637 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 830 ppbdetected in 223 of 223 samples	4,000 ppb	None published	2018-2022
Nitrate	119 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 350 ppbdetected in 16 of 16 samples	10,000 ppb	None published	2018-2022
6:2 FTSA	40.9 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 190 pptdetected in 3 of 8 samples	No federal limit	None published	2023-2024
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)	37.6 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 52.8 ppbdetected in 16 of 16 samples	No federal limit	None published	2018-2019
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	31.7 ppbaverage of all sampleshighest sample 71 ppb

Questions people ask

Utilities serving ZIP 33138
Utility	Share of the ZIP area	Role
Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department	68%	Main utility (this report)

Which water utility serves ZIP 33138?

Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (EPA water system FL4130871) is the main utility for ZIP 33138, based on EPA Water System Boundaries (CWS service area boundaries) v3.0, March 2026 release overlaid on Census ZIP code areas. ZIP codes can cross utility lines, so check your water bill. Your water bill names your utility.

Does the utility serving ZIP 33138 buy water from another system?

No. EPA SDWA records (July to September 2026 extract) show no water purchases by Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department from another system.

How many contaminants in ZIP 33138 are above published health guidelines?

5 of 36 detected contaminants were above their published health guidelines in EPA SDWA, EPA UCMR and Florida DEP data, 2018-2024. The highest: Arsenic at 425 times its guideline, Bromodichloromethane at 143 times its guideline and Dibromochloromethane at 48 times its guideline. PFOA and PFOS averaged above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031).

How is the Water Score for ZIP 33138 calculated?

The score starts at 100. It goes down 8 for each contaminant above a cited health guideline whose source states a cancer basis, 5 for each other contaminant above its cited guideline, 5 for each of PFOA and PFOS averaging above the 4.0 ppt limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule, 10 for each contaminant whose average of all samples is above EPA's legal limit (instead of its guideline step), and 1 for each contaminant with a cited cancer-based guideline that is detected below it. Only guidelines with a cited document count. The lowest score is 5. Higher is better. For this report: 100 minus 8 times 5, minus 5 times 2 (PFOA and PFOS average above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule) is 50, so the score is 50.

What is the difference between a health guideline and a legal limit?

A legal limit is an enforceable standard, set by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Limits weigh health research together with the cost and feasibility of treatment. A health guideline is published by public-health sources and based on health research alone. A utility can meet every legal limit and still be above a published health guideline.

How recent is the data for ZIP 33138?

Test results cover 2018-2024. EPA compliance records come from the July to September 2026 extract. Data may be one to three years old and may not reflect water at your tap.

Results for ZIP 33138: level reported, health guideline, and legal limit or action level
Contaminant	Level reported	Health guideline (publisher)	Legal limit or action level	Multiple of guideline
Arsenic	1.7 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 2.1 ppb detected in 3 of 3 samples	0.004 ppb (California OEHHA 2004)	10 ppb	425× the health guideline
Bromodichloromethane	8.59 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 22 ppb detected in 83 of 88 samples	0.06 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)	Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	143× the health guideline
Dibromochloromethane	4.75 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 13.1 ppb detected in 63 of 88 samples	0.1 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)	Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	48× the health guideline
Chloroform	18.1 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 36 ppb detected in 87 of 87 samples	0.4 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)	Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	45× the health guideline
Bromoform	0.56 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 1.9 ppb detected in 40 of 88 samples	0.5 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)	Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	1.1× the health guideline
PFOS	14.2 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 33 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	zero (EPA MCLG)	4 ppt (from 2029)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFOA	5.4 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 14 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	zero (EPA MCLG)	4 ppt (from 2029)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)	28.7 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 66.7 ppb detected in 153 of 153 samples	None published	60 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	31.7 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 71 ppb detected in 153 of 153 samples	None published	80 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFHxS	2.58 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 9.4 ppt detected in 3 of 8 samples	10 ppt (EPA MCLG)	10 ppt (from 2029)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Fluoride	637 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 830 ppb detected in 223 of 223 samples	None published	4,000 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFNA	1.4 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 6.5 ppt detected in 2 of 8 samples	10 ppt (EPA MCLG)	10 ppt (from 2029)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Nitrite	19.3 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 64 ppb detected in 13 of 16 samples	None published	1,000 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Uranium	0.49 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 1.47 ppb detected in 1 of 3 samples	None published	30 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Selenium	0.6 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 1 ppb detected in 2 of 3 samples	None published	50 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Nitrate	119 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 350 ppb detected in 16 of 16 samples	None published	10,000 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Barium	4.77 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 5.6 ppb detected in 3 of 3 samples	None published	2,000 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Chromium (total)	0.2 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 0.3 ppb detected in 3 of 3 samples	None published	100 ppb	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFBS	3.09 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 4.6 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	2,000 ppt (U.S. EPA 2022)	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
6:2 FTSA	40.9 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 190 ppt detected in 3 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
8:2 FTSA	2.23 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 9.6 ppt detected in 2 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Aluminum	3.93 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 5 ppb detected in 3 of 3 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Copper	1.38 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 2.4 ppb detected in 4 of 4 samples Measured where water enters the distribution system, not at the tap. EPA's action level applies to tap samples.	None published	1,300 ppb (EPA action level, 90th percentile)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Dibromoacetic acid	2.68 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 6.2 ppb detected in 83 of 88 samples	None published	Counts toward the 60 ppb limit for haloacetic acids (HAA5)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Dichloroacetic acid	18.5 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 49.3 ppb detected in 88 of 88 samples	None published	Counts toward the 60 ppb limit for haloacetic acids (HAA5)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)	37.6 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 52.8 ppb detected in 16 of 16 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Lead	3.1 ppb	None published	15 ppb (EPA action level, 90th percentile)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Manganese	0.5 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 1 ppb detected in 2 of 3 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Monobromoacetic acid	0.07 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 2.8 ppb detected in 7 of 88 samples	None published	Counts toward the 60 ppb limit for haloacetic acids (HAA5)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Monochloroacetic acid	1.51 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 4.1 ppb detected in 72 of 87 samples	None published	Counts toward the 60 ppb limit for haloacetic acids (HAA5)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFBA	10.2 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 22 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFHpA	6.34 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 20 ppt detected in 5 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFHxA	17.4 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 58 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
PFPeA	17.5 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 56 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples	None published	No federal limit	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Radium-226	0.13 pCi/L. average of all samples highest sample 0.4 pCi/L detected in 1 of 3 samples	None published	Counts toward the combined 5 pCi/L limit for radium-226 and radium-228	Not above its guideline, or no guideline
Trichloroacetic acid	5.24 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 25.2 ppb detected in 88 of 88 samples	None published	Counts toward the 60 ppb limit for haloacetic acids (HAA5)	Not above its guideline, or no guideline

Results for ZIP 33138: level reported, health guideline, and legal limit or action level

Contaminant

Level reported

Health guideline (publisher)

Legal limit or action level

Multiple of guideline

Arsenic

1.7 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 2.1 ppb detected in 3 of 3 samples

0.004 ppb (California OEHHA 2004)

10 ppb

425× the health guideline

Bromodichloromethane

8.59 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 22 ppb detected in 83 of 88 samples

0.06 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)

Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

143× the health guideline

Dibromochloromethane

4.75 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 13.1 ppb detected in 63 of 88 samples

0.1 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)

Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

48× the health guideline

Chloroform

18.1 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 36 ppb detected in 87 of 87 samples

0.4 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)

Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

45× the health guideline

Bromoform

0.56 ppb. average of all samples highest sample 1.9 ppb detected in 40 of 88 samples

0.5 ppb (California OEHHA 2020)

Counts toward the 80 ppb limit for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

1.1× the health guideline

PFOS

14.2 ppt. average of all samples highest sample 33 ppt detected in 6 of 8 samples

zero (EPA MCLG)

4 ppt (from 2029)