Sources & methodology
Every number on this site comes from a public record we can point you to. Here is exactly which record, how we use it, and what we do when the record doesn't exist.
Last reviewed July 29, 2026 · 56 cities · 437 neighborhoods
How each page is built
The same seven steps, every city, every neighborhood.
- 01
Identify the system that actually serves the address
We look up the PWSID through EPA's SDWIS records by city and county, then cross-check it against the operator's own service-area map. Many suburban Central Florida addresses sit inside a city boundary but are served by the county — or by a well.
- 02
Pull the most recent Consumer Confidence Report
Every public water system is legally required to publish a CCR annually. That report — not a third-party aggregator — is the primary source for the numbers we show.
- 03
Report hardness in both ppm and gpg
We compare against the ~120 ppm / ~7 gpg commonly cited national average. Where a utility publishes a range, we show the high end of that utility's own published range rather than inventing a midpoint.
- 04
Note chlorine / chloramine against the EPA MRDL
The maximum residual disinfectant level is 4 ppm. Where a system runs legal-but-noticeable residual, we say exactly that. We never describe a compliant reading as a violation.
- 05
Check EPA ECHO for real violations
If a PWSID has reported violations, we quote them as reported. If it has none, we say it has none. We do not infer violations from taste, age, or reputation.
- 06
Handle well areas honestly
Unincorporated and rural addresses on private wells have no CCR, because nobody tests private wells. That's the truth and it's the strongest thing we can say about those areas. We reference regional USGS Floridan Aquifer studies for context instead of a fabricated number.
- 07
Don't force a bad-news angle
Where a local number isn't actually worse than average, we don't pretend it is. We use the true angle for that area instead — taste complaints, infrastructure age, staining, or odor.
System registry
Every water system we reference.
| System | County | PWSID | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| Orange County Utilities | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Winter Park Water & Wastewater Utility | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Apopka Public Services | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Ocoee Utilities | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Winter Garden Public Services | Orange | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| Toho Water Authority | Multi-county | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| Seminole County Environmental Services | Seminole | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Sanford Utilities | Seminole | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Altamonte Springs Public Works | Seminole | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Oviedo Public Works | Seminole | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
| City of Clermont Utilities | Lake | — | 2024 CCR ↗ |
18 system references are still marked unconfirmed. Those pages say so rather than implying a verified source.
What we deliberately don't publish
- • Install counts, review counts, or star ratings we can't tie to a real record.
- • Written testimonials. Real Google reviews get embedded once they exist.
- • Certification badges for organizations we haven't actually joined.
- • A contaminant number for any private-well area, because none exists.
- • A "worse than average" claim where the local number isn't actually worse.
Common questions
Where does Shield Water Solutions get its water quality data?
From the operating utility's own annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), EPA's SDWIS system records and ECHO compliance database, and USGS groundwater studies for private-well areas. Every local page cites the specific system, report year, and link.
Are neighborhood numbers measured at my house?
No. Utility reporting is done at the system level, so neighborhood figures reflect the service zone that supplies that neighborhood, adjusted for plumbing age and source. Only an on-site test measures your actual tap.
What if my home is on a private well?
Private wells are not regulated, treated, or tested by any agency, so no CCR exists. For those areas we say so plainly and reference regional USGS groundwater studies for context instead of publishing a number we do not have.
How often is the data updated?
CCRs publish annually. We re-check each system against its current report and record the review date on every local page.
Think a number is wrong? Tell us and cite the report — we'll correct it and note the change date.