Century Issues Drinking Water Warning After Elevated Lead Found In Home Samples; Town Says Its System Is Clear

August 27, 2026

The Town of Century has issued a “Drinking Water Warning” after sampling showed elevated lead levels in some homes.

“We collected samples and analyzed them for lead. The results of more than 10 percent of our samples exceeded the action level for lead,” the notice stated about the samples collected at faucets inside the homes August 16-17.

A report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection showed those homes were on Fannie Road at 18 parts per billion (ppb) and Clancey Way at 22 ppb—nearly 50% above the EPA action level of 15 ppb.

Wednesday, town officials emphasized that the samples were taken by residents inside their homes, while noting that the municipal water system does not contain lead. The town is responsible for all piping to, and including, the meter. All plumbing beyond the meter is the customer’s responsibility. Town officials said water customers may contact a licensed plumber to determine what type of plumbing is on their side of the meter.

“The Town of Century is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community; however, lead from service lines and lead plumbing and fixtures can dissolve or break off into water and end up at the faucet,” the warning notice states. “The Town of Century conducted a Lead Service Line Inventory in 2024 and found no lead piping or material in the water system. We found that plumbing in homes constructed before 1989 is a potential source of lead in your drinking water. This does not mean that every property that receives drinking water from the Town of Century has lead in the drinking water.”

The home on Fannie Road was constructed in 1960, and the home on Clancey Way was constructed in 1994, according to Escambia County Property Appraiser records.

To read the complete “Drinking Water Warning” issued by the town, click here.

A “lead service line inventory” that shows 964 individual service addresses on the water system is available for viewing a Century Town Hall. This inventory does not show lead testing results; it shows the type of pipe (plastic, copper, galvanized, etc.) that was found to be connected to the meter at each service address.

Pictured: The Town of Century’s out-of-service water well on Academy Street. NorthEscmbia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under TOP STORIES