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1996 Safe Drinking Water Act
The Town of Bay Harbor Islands Water Department is required, as part of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, to provide information to the consumer regarding the quality of water delivered.
The Town of Bay Harbor Islands purchases 100% of its water from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD). The Town receives this water through a 30 inch transmission line that comes from North Miami across the Causeway and along Kane Concourse. The main then continues east to serve Bal Harbour, Indian Creek, and Surfside.
Water Quality
View the 2020 Water Quality Report from WASD, which gives facts, figures, and information about Miami-Dade’s water. In the table, you will find abbreviations which are defined in as follows:
- (ppb) = parts per billion
- (ppm) =parts per million
- (MCL) = Maximum Contaminant Level
Lead
The water supplied by WASD and the Town does not contain lead. However, lead may enter the tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. If you are concerned about elevated levels in your home, you may wish to flush the tap for 30 to 60 seconds before using the water. This process is only necessary if the water has stood motionless in the tap for 6 hours or more.
Lead & Your Family's Health
The Town produces a brochure entitled “Lead and Your Family’s Health (PDF)."
Water Testing
In accordance with Federal and State regulations, the Town of Bay Harbor Islands is required to perform additional testing to monitor for total coliform bacteria, total trihalomethanes, and total haloacetic acids in your drinking water. View the complete results (PDF) of all tests performed by the Town in 2015, in regards to your water quality.
The following table summarizes the results of these additional tests performed by the Town during 2014.
| Contaminant and Unit of Measure | Federal MCL | Federal Goal | State MCL | Violations | Year | Level Detected | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform Bacteria | 0 parts per billion | 0 parts per billion | 0 parts per billion | No | 2015 | 0 parts per billion | Naturally Present in the Environment |
| Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) | 80 parts per billion | 80 parts per billion | 80 parts per billion | No | 2015 | 30.57 parts per billion | Florida Spectrum Environment |
| Haloacetic Acids (ppb) | 60 parts per billion | 60 parts per billion | 60 parts per billion | No | 2015 | 53.93 parts per billion | Florida Spectrum Environment |
All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least a small amount of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential heath effects is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at EPA.gov.
More Information
If you have any questions about water safety should be directed to the numbers provided on the WASA brochure. Any specific questions about Bay Harbor Islands water should be directed to the Water Department at Town Hall at 305-866-6241.