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Pinellas County Lead and Copper Monitoring

Pinellas County Utilities (PCU) is known for being proactive. We are nationally recognized for researching emerging health and safety issues in the water industry. Some of our research partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Water Research Foundation (WRF) and several university research centers.

Pinellas County’s Lead and Copper Monitoring History

  • 1974-1977: In response to the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), PCU began investigating copper levels in the drinking water distribution system and residential plumbing.
  • 1984: The 1984 SDWA amendments added lead as an item of concern in drinking water systems. We implemented more studies and monitoring programs to include lead. Water quality research had determined that potable (drinking) water can leach copper and lead from metal pipes and fixtures in the distribution system.
  • 1987: A comprehensive water quality study was conducted with University of Central Florida (UCF) to study multiple aspects of water quality, including the source of copper and lead in drinking water systems. Based on results from the UCF study and our previous work, we incorporated a phosphate-based corrosion inhibitor into the distribution system.

What is a Polyphosphate Corrosion Inhibitor?

The polyphosphate corrosion inhibitor forms a protective layer inside the piping and acts as a barrier to corrosion. PCU Water Treatment Plant Operators control and verify the dose rates and residuals using online, real-time monitoring of the polyphosphate. Samples are also collected and analyzed routinely to verify the residuals.

Every five years, PCU conducts studies to review best management practices and optimize this treatment process. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has designated PCU as optimized for corrosion control of copper and lead. This designation is based on results of samples that have been collected from residential plumbing since the mid-1990s.

How We Monitor for Lead and Copper

The PCU system has remained in compliance with FDEP regulations for lead and copper to date. We even qualify for reduced monitoring since we have consistently complied over a long period of time.

PCU collects 50 lead and copper samples at the customers water tap on a three-year interval. The last sampling event was July 2020. You can view the results in the table below. The next sampling event will be in 2023.

Regulatory Lead
Action Level		2020 Lead 90th
Percentile Result		Regulatory Lead
Action Level		2020 Copper 90th
Percentile Result
0.015 milligrams per liter0.0008 milligrams per liter1.3 milligrams per liter0.439 milligrams per liter

In addition to the FDEP regulatory requirement, lead levels are analyzed annually to confirm the quality of the water supply. Results are reported in the annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Changing the Disinfection Process

  • 2002: Our water supplier, Tampa Bay Water, changed the water supply from groundwater to a varying mixture of ground and surface water. They also changed the disinfection process from chlorine to chloramines.

What is Chloramine?

Chloramine is a form of disinfectant produced by combining chlorine with ammonia. Both chloramines and chlorine are disinfectants that destroy potentially harmful bacteria in the potable water system. The resulting changes in the water chemistry were expected to have a corrosive impact on metal pipes and fixtures.

The Galvanized Pipe Replacement Program

PCU’s Galvanized Pipe Replacement Program expedited the removal of galvanized pipe in the water distribution system. Within 18 months, 118 miles of galvanized pipe was replaced with new high-density polyethylene (HDPR) plastic pipe with no lead content. In addition, 12,850 service connections were replaced.

More on the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule

The EPA recently revised the Lead and Copper Rule to strengthen its public health protections and clarify its implementation requirements. For more information, visit the EPA website.