City of Vero Beach

General Municipal Water Quality Information

Water sources for both tap and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may occur naturally or result from oil/gas production activities

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety, while FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water. It's normal for water to contain small amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

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