City of Palatka Provides Water Quality Update
Palatka, FL— December 8, 2025 — The City of Palatka provides this update following the December 5th public notice on elevated lead levels detected in some homes during routine monitoring.
In November 2025, the City collected 62 residential water samples as part of required EPA testing. Six samples - approximately 10 percent – showed lead levels above the EPA’s Lead Action Level. All of these elevated results came from homes built before 1986, a period when lead plumbing was commonly used in private residential construction.
The City has completed the replacement of all City-owned customer service infrastructures, including meters and fittings, and other fittings located on the City side of the service connection. These replacements were completed prior to the December 5, 2025, public notice. Following these upgrades, post-replacement testing confirms all water from the City meets all state and federal regulatory standards. Meter boxes, connectors, and all relevant City-side pipes have been replaced over the last several years. We are providing the most recent testing report for transparency: https://palatka-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6396/J74762-1-UDS-Level-2-Report-Final-Report
While the City’s water meets all state and federal regulatory standards, it is important for residents to be aware that some elevated lead levels may be caused by plumbing inside their own homes. The graphic included with this release highlights that private plumbing and fixtures, especially in homes with older pipes, can be a source of lead—even if water entering the property meets all required standards. The City is not responsible for plumbing located beyond the service connection, so homeowners should remain vigilant regarding their private plumbing systems.
The City is committed to helping residents while proactively monitoring lead in the water. If you have questions about your home's water quality, free or low-cost water-testing kits are available from your local hardware stores. Residents with homes that were built prior to 1986 are encouraged to test their water to determine if their pipes contain lead.
For questions, contact Shawn Bruneau, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, at 386-329-0144 or Sbruneau@palatka-fl.gov, 320 N. Moody Rd., Palatka, FL.
More information on reducing lead exposure is available at the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water