Start by Ruling Out Simple Causes Before Testing

Confirm Tampa’s Source of Water Supply

The Tampa public water system in Hillsborough County relies on surface water, which is a common source type where microplastics can originate due to runoff and waterway contamination.

Check for Visible Particulates or Cloudiness

Look for any unusual cloudiness or particles at your tap that might indicate suspended solids including microplastics, before pursuing lab tests.

Consider Comprehensive Laboratory Testing

Since there is currently no federal monitoring data on microplastics in this system, a certified laboratory test on your household water is needed to establish presence or concentration.

How Water Changes at Your Tap After Using the Fleck Microplastics Filter

Reduction of Particulate Matter

The Fleck Microplastics Filter is designed to remove microscopic plastic particles and other solids, providing visibly clearer water.

Improvement in Taste and Odor

Removing microplastics and associated particles can reduce any subtle taste or odor effects linked to these contaminants.

Consistent Performance Over Time

The Fleck System ships ready to configure for household use, supporting ongoing microplastics filtration without complex setup.

Understanding What Tampa’s EPA Record Means and Does Not Mean

No Health-Based Violations Recorded

The HCWRC/Northwest Utilities system serving Tampa reports zero EPA health-based violations, which means no federally recognized safety limits have been exceeded according to recent testing.

Lead Levels Are Distribution-Based Measures

Reported lead concentrations come from distribution sampling and do not imply the presence of microplastics or influence microplastics levels.

No Government Microplastics Monitoring Exists

Currently, no EPA data measure microplastics in this water system or any other national dataset, so absence of data does not confirm absence in your tap.

How Microplastics Can Enter the Hillsborough Surface Water Source

Surface Runoff and Urban Waterways

Microplastics mainly originate from land-based sources like urban runoff, breakdown of plastic debris, and wastewater effluent entering streams and reservoirs.

Stormwater Carryover Into Reservoirs

Heavy rains can increase particulate loading, including microplastics, into the surface water sources supplying Tampa.

Environmental Distribution Patterns

Microplastics move through water cycles and may accumulate or disperse in variable patterns depending on local conditions and water treatment processes.

Distinguishing Public Water System Records from Private Household Testing

System Data Reflect Aggregate Water Quality

Public water system records report on overall water quality for large populations and connections, not specific conditions at individual taps or homes.

Household Plumbing Can Alter Water Quality

Materials and age of household plumbing can affect contaminants and particulates entering your tap, separate from the public system source water.

Individual Testing Is Essential for Microplastics

Since no system-wide microplastics tests exist, homeowners concerned about microplastics must seek laboratory analysis of their own water supply.

What Not to Conclude from Hillsborough County’s Public Water Data

Do not assume that because the public system reports no health-based violations and no microplastics monitoring data, your individual home water is free of microplastics. Likewise, detection of microplastics requires specific testing and should not be inferred from unrelated water quality reports.

Choosing a technology like the Fleck Microplastics Filter provides a proactive way to reduce particle contaminants, including microplastics, after verifying your household water condition.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2023-12-01. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA SDWIS record for HCWRC/NORTHWEST UTILITIES (FL6290388), surface water supply, serving 208982 people: 0 health-based violations of 1 total; lead 90th percentile 0.0008 mg/L