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Is Lake Buena Vista Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:48 pm, July 19, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Lake Buena Vista?

Yes, Lake Buena Vista's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Lake Buena Vista has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Lake Buena Vista's water utility, Rcid Central (4 Wps), had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Rcid Central (4 Wps) water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Lake Buena Vista Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Lake Buena Vista tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Lake Buena Vista's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Lake Buena Vista Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Rcid Central (4 Wps) for Lake Buena Vista in Florida. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

Is there Lead in Lake Buena Vista Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Lake Buena Vista water system, Rcid Central (4 Wps), between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0006 mg/L of lead in Lake Buena Vista water. This is 4.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Lake Buena Vista contained more lead.

While Lake Buena Vista water testing may have found 0.0006 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Lake Buena Vista Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Orlando NTC - near Lake Buena Vista with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Lake Buena Vista has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
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Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Lake Buena Vista Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT LAKE BUENA VISTA CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Lake Buena Vista water provider, Rcid Central (4 Wps), please use the information below.
By Phone: 407-824-7447
By Mail: PO BOX 10000
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL, 32830-1000
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR RCID CENTRAL (4 WPS)
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Rcid Central (4 Wps) account to pay their Lake Buena Vista water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Rcid Central (4 Wps) bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Lake Buena Vista water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Lake Buena Vista water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP LAKE BUENA VISTA WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Lake Buena Vista means you will often need to put the water in your name with Rcid Central (4 Wps). In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Lake Buena Vista means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Rcid Central (4 Wps). In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Lake Buena Vista tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 33% Low
  • Water Pollution 49% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 67% High
  • Water Quality 51% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Lake Buena Vista, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Lake Buena Vista Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Lake Buena Vista's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

2020 Annual Drinking

Water Quality Report of

Reedy Creek Improvement District

Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is pleased to present the 2020 Annual Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the excellent water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. Included are details about the source of your water, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. Our constant goal is to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.

Our water source is ground water from wells and is chlorinated for disinfection purposes. Drinking water is supplied from 8 wells that are strategically located throughout the property. These wells range from 340 to 900 feet deep and draw water from the Upper Floridan Aquifer. This report shows our water quality results and what they mean.

In 2020 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system. The assessment was conducted to

provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. There are 9 potential sources of contamination identified for this system with a low susceptibility level. The assessment results are available on the FDEP SWAPP website at https://fldep.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/ or they can be obtained from the water department at 407-824-4841.

This report contains important information about the quality of water in your community. A written copy of the report will be mailed to customers only upon request and is also available at 2151 South Service Lane, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830.

Este informe contiene información importante sobre la calidad del agua en su comunidad. Una copia escrita del este reporte sera enviada por correo unicamente a quien asi lo solicite. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre este reporte o su servicio de agua, favor the comunicarse con Jose Garcia al 407-824-1248.

RCID routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2020.

Data obtained before January 1, 2020, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations.

In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection By-Products Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results for the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): the average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

“ND” means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Nanograms per liter (µg/l): one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l): one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.

Picocurie per Liter (pCi/L); measure of the radioactivity in water. TON: Threshold odor number

Radioactive Contaminants

Contaminant

Dates of

MCL

Level

Range of

 

 

Likely Source of

and Unit of

sampling

Violation

MCLG

MCL

Detected

Results

Contamination

Measurement

(mo/yr)

Y/N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Alpha

03/10/20

 

N

3.3

1.1-3.3 pCi/L

0

15

Erosion of natural deposits

emitters (pCi/L)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Radium 226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ 228 or

03/10/20

 

N

1.1

1.0-1.1 pCi/L

0

5

Erosion of natural deposits

combined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

radium (pCi/L)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results in the Level Detected column for radioactive contaminants are the highest detected level at any sampling point.

Inorganic Contaminants

Contaminant

Dates of

MCL

Level

Range of

 

 

Likely Source of

and Unit of

sampling

Violation

MCLG

MCL

Detected

Results

Contamination

Measurement

(mo/yr)

Y/N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discharge of drilling wastes;

Barium (ppm)

03/10/20

N

0.015 ppm

0.011-0.015 ppm

2

2

discharge from metal refineries;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

erosion of natural deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

discharge from fertilizer and

Fluoride (ppm)

03/10/20

N

0.081 ppm

0.062-0.081 ppm

4

4.0

aluminum factories. Water

additive which promotes strong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

teeth when at the optimum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

level of 0.7 ppm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Runoff from fertilizer use;

Nitrate (as

03/10/20

N

1.6 ppm

ND-1.6 ppm

10

10

leaching from septic tanks,

Nitrogen) (ppm)

sewage; erosion of natural

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discharge from petroleum and

Selenium (ppb)

03/10/20

N

1.6 ppb

ND-1.6 ppb

50

50

metal refineries; erosion of

natural deposits; discharge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

from mines

Sodium (ppm)

03/10/20

N

10.4 ppm

4.9-10.4 ppm

N/A

160

Saltwater intrusion, leaching

from soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results in the Level Detected column for inorganic contaminants are the highest detected level at any sampling point, depending on the sampling frequency.

Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products

Contaminant and

Dates of

MCL Violation

 

 

 

 

Likely Source of

Unit of

sampling

Level Detected

Range of Results

MCLG

MCL

(Y/N)

Contamination

Measurement

(mo/yr)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

By-product of

83. Haloacetic

04/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

N

28.9 ppb*

8-35.5 ppb **

N/A

60

drinking water

Acids (HAA5) (ppb)

07/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

disinfection

 

10/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

84. Total

01/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

By-product of

04/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

Trihalomethanes

N

59.9 ppb*

27-80.5 ppb**

N/A

80

drinking water

07/08/20

(TTHM) (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

disinfection

10/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Highest Detected = highest locational running annual average (LRRA) calculated using 4 sampling quarters. ** Range of detected includes individual samples at each of the Stage 2 D/DPB sampling locations.
    One sample during 2020 had a TTHM result of 80.5 ppb. However the system did not incur an MCL violation, because all annual average results at all sites were below the MCL. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer

Lead and Copper (Tap Water)

Contaminant

Dates of

AL Exceeded

90th Percentile

No. of sampling

 

AL

Likely Source of

and Unit of

sampling

sites exceeding the

MCLG

(Action

(Y/N)

Result

Contamination

Measurement

(mo/yr)

AL

 

Level)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrosion of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

household plumbing

85. Copper (tap

06/09/20

N

0.079 ppm

0

1.3

1.3

systems; erosion of

water) (ppm)

natural deposits;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

leaching from wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

preservatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrosion of

86. Lead (tap

06/09/20

N

0.6 ppb

0

0

15

household plumbing

water) (ppb)

systems; erosion of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

natural deposits

Secondary Contaminants

Contaminant and

Dates of

MCL

 

 

 

 

Likely Source of

Unit of

sampling

Violation

Highest Result

Range of Results

MCLG

MCL

Contamination

Measurement

(mo/yr)

Y/N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naturally occurring

(threshold odor

03/10/20

Y

4 TON *

1-4 TON

 

3

 

organics

number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*One odor result was over the MCL and is a monitoring violation. As it is a secondary contaminant, no corrective action is required at this time.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. RCID is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2

minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your

water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the

land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
  2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
  3. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
  1. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
  2. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

“Please DO NOT FLUSH your unused/unwanted medications down toilets or sink drains. More information is available at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/pages/disposal.htm .”

We work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.

Contaminants


Reedy Creek Improvement District - Central

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 136500
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Groundwater
  • Total: 13

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Nitrate
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Barium
  • Chlorate
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dalapon
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Selenium
  • Strontium
  • Vanadium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

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