New York vs Florida
Statewide drinking water quality comparison — violation rates, PFAS prevalence, and system-level risk
Quick Answer
Florida has a lower open-violation rate (0.5% vs. 0.6%). New York has 313 utilities with PFAS records (35.4%) vs. 388 in Florida (51.3%).
NY · 883 utilities
0.6%
Open violation rate
35.4%
PFAS detection rate
0
High/critical risk
100.0%
Safe/low risk
FL · 756 utilities
0.5%
Open violation rate
51.3%
PFAS detection rate
0
High/critical risk
100.0%
Safe/low risk
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | New York | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Total Utilities | 883 | 756 |
| Population Served | 18,300,000 | 21,500,000 |
| Well Water % | 25% on private wells | 10% on private wells |
| Open Violation Rate | 0.6%(5 utilities) | 0.5%(4 utilities) |
| PFAS Detection Rate | 35.4%(313 utilities) | 51.3%(388 utilities) |
| High/Critical Risk Utilities | 0 | 0 |
| Safe/Low Risk Rate | 100.0%(883 utilities) | 100.0%(756 utilities) |
| Top Contaminants |
State Profiles
New York
New York has 883 community water systems serving approximately 18.3 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, lead, nitrates. 25% of New York residents rely on private wells. NYSDOH holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Highest-Risk Systems
Florida
Florida relies almost entirely on groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer System, one of the world's most productive aquifers. High organic content in Florida's source water creates elevated disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation. Lead remains a concern in older structures. PFAS contamination has been found near military installations. FDEP holds primary enforcement authority.
Highest-Risk Systems
Key Differences
Open violation rate: New York at 0.6% vs. Florida at 0.5%. Florida has a lower rate of systems with unresolved health-based violations.
PFAS detection: New York has PFAS records at 35.4% of utilities vs. 51.3% in Florida. Rates reflect UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025).
Well water reliance: New York (25% on private wells) vs. Florida (10% on private wells). Private well users are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and should test independently.