PFAS in Florida Water — What Central Florida Homeowners Need to Know in 2025
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — better known as PFAS or "forever chemicals" — have become one of the most talked-about water quality issues in the country. And for good reason. These synthetic compounds have been detected in drinking water supplies across Florida, including areas throughout Central Florida that Purity H2O serves. Here is what the science says, what the regulations require, and what you can do to protect your household.
What Are PFAS and Why Are They Called "Forever Chemicals"?
PFAS are a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. They show up in nonstick cookware coatings, water-resistant clothing, food packaging, firefighting foam, and hundreds of industrial applications. The same chemical properties that make PFAS so useful — their extreme stability and resistance to breaking down — are what make them a public health concern.
PFAS do not degrade naturally in the environment or the human body. They accumulate over time, which is why the term "forever chemicals" has stuck. Research links certain PFAS compounds to a range of health concerns including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disruption, immune system effects, and developmental issues in children.
What Florida's Testing Data Shows
The EPA's expanded PFAS monitoring program has led to more testing across Florida in recent years. Several Central Florida water systems and military installation areas have shown detectable PFAS levels. The sources include legacy use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at military bases and airports, as well as industrial discharge and landfill leachate.
In 2024, the EPA set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS — two of the most studied PFAS compounds — at 4 parts per trillion, among the most stringent water quality standards ever established. Many water systems are still in the process of assessing compliance and implementing treatment solutions.
Does Your Home Have PFAS in the Water?
If you are on city water in Florida, your utility's Consumer Confidence Report will increasingly include PFAS data as testing requirements expand. However, reports reflect system-wide averages and may not capture what comes out of your specific tap. Well water users have no municipal reporting at all — testing your well for PFAS requires commissioning a specific laboratory analysis.
Homeowners who live near military bases, airports, industrial sites, or landfills in Central Florida have the highest exposure risk and are most strongly encouraged to consider PFAS-specific water testing.
What Removes PFAS From Drinking Water?
Not all water treatment methods are effective against PFAS. Standard softeners and basic carbon filters do not reliably remove PFAS compounds. The two most effective methods for point-of-use drinking water are:
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Reverse osmosis systems force water through a semipermeable membrane that is effective at removing PFAS, heavy metals, nitrates, and many other contaminants. An under-sink RO system at the kitchen faucet is one of the most cost-effective ways to address PFAS in drinking and cooking water specifically.
Activated Carbon Filtration
High-quality activated carbon — particularly granular activated carbon (GAC) and catalytic activated carbon — can adsorb many PFAS compounds. Effectiveness varies by PFAS type and contact time, making media selection and system design important factors.
A Practical Approach for Central Florida Homeowners
PFAS awareness is growing, and so is access to solutions. For most homeowners, a combination approach works well: a whole-home conditioning system to address hardness, chlorine, and other everyday water quality concerns, plus a reverse osmosis drinking water system at the kitchen sink for the cleanest possible water for drinking, cooking, ice, and coffee.
An in-home water test is the right starting point regardless of PFAS concern. It gives you a complete picture of your water quality and lets a local specialist recommend the right combination of solutions for your specific home and water source.
Purity H2O provides free in-home water tests throughout Lakeland, Mulberry, Bartow, Zephyrhills, and the broader Central Florida area.
