PFAS in South Florida tap water: what the public data shows

Name: PFOS and PFOA averages reported by South Florida water utilities, EPA UCMR 5
Creator: ScoreYourWater.com

EPA's 2024 rule sets a limit of 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS; water systems must meet it by April 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. As of October 14, 2026, 46 of 63 utility reports here show PFOS or PFOA averaged above 4.0 ppt (EPA UCMR 5), including 1 whose results were measured by its water supplier. Public data, not a test of your tap.

Data updated October 24, 2026. Last checked against the Federal Register: October 25, 2026. By Steve Saper, founder.

See what your utility reported

What are PFAS?

PFAS are a family of man-made chemicals. PFOA was once used to make nonstick coatings and firefighting foam; PFOS was used in stain repellents and firefighting foam. EPA collected national monitoring data on PFAS in public water systems under its Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5).

What the federal rule says

EPA's 2024 rule sets a limit of 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS; water systems must meet it by April 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031.

For PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX) and the mixture Hazard Index: EPA set a limit in 2024 and proposed withdrawing it in May 2026.

EPA set the goal (MCLG) for PFOA and PFOS at zero. (EPA's statement, from EPA's PFAS rule page; linked in sources.)

A legal limit and a health guideline are different. A legal limit is an enforceable standard set by EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The 4.0 ppt figure is a legal limit with a compliance date.

Which South Florida utilities reported PFOS or PFOA

Average above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031)

Average above 4.0 ppt, the limit in EPA's 2024 PFAS rule (water systems must meet it by April 2029; EPA has proposed allowing until 2031)
Utility	County	PFOS	PFOA	Data years
BCWWS 1A (Broward County Water & Wastewater)	Broward	19.8 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 20.7 pptdetected in 2 of 2 samples	6.8 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 7.2 pptdetected in 2 of 2 samples	2024
BCWWS 2A (Broward County Water & Wastewater)	Broward	26 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 28.4 pptdetected in 2 of 2 samples	9.7 pptaverage of all sampleshighest sample 11.5 pptdetected in 2 of 2 samples	2024-2025
BCWWS 3A (Broward County Water & Wastewater)	Broward	24.6 pptaverage of all samples

Reading your own result

Find your utility. Your water bill names it. The ZIP report shows which utility serves your ZIP and how confident the match is.
Read the utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Utilities publish one each year; the PFAS section lists their own monitoring results.
Ask the utility. The number on the report is a utility result, not your tap.
If you want your own tap tested, use a state-certified laboratory. The Florida Department of Health lists certified labs.
If you are looking at products, certifications are public. NSF and WQA publish listings for products certified for PFOA/PFOS reduction under NSF/ANSI standards 53 or 58. Look up the exact model you are considering in their listings: WQA https://www.wqa.org/find-products. Anyone selling a product should be able to show you its listing.
Our systems aren't certified for PFAS.

See what your utility reported: ZIP lookup.

Questions people ask

What limit has EPA set for PFAS in drinking water?

EPA's 2024 rule sets a limit of 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS; water systems must meet it by April 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. EPA set the goal for PFOA and PFOS at zero.

Which South Florida utilities have reported PFOS or PFOA?

In EPA UCMR 5 data (2023–2026), 46 utility reports on ScoreYourWater.com show PFOS or PFOA averaged above 4.0 ppt, including 1 whose results were measured by its water supplier, across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties; the table above gives each result, year and source. Under EPA's 2024 PFAS rule, water systems must meet the PFOA and PFOS limits (4.0 ppt each) by April 2029; in May 2026 EPA proposed allowing extensions to April 2031. Results before then are monitoring data, not violations. This is public data, not a test of your tap.

Does the ZIP report show my utility's PFAS results?

Your ZIP report lists any PFAS your utility reported, with the sample year and source. It's public data, not a test of your tap.

How can I find out what is in my own tap water?

A report on your utility describes the utility's public results, not your home's plumbing. For your own tap, use a state-certified laboratory; the Florida Department of Health lists them. Your utility's Consumer Confidence Report is the other primary record.

Sources

EPA, PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (2024 rule): https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
Federal Register (rule status check, date at the top of this page): 89 FR 32532 (2024 rule) ; 91 FR 29425 (May 2026 proposal) ; 91 FR 29413 (May 2026 proposal)
EPA, Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) data: https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/fifth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule
EPA, UCMR occurrence data: https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/occurrence-data-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule
EPA SDWA data via ECHO: https://echo.epa.gov/
WQA certified products: https://www.wqa.org/find-products
This site: methodology

Water Scores and reports are educational estimates from public data, not medical advice. Levels are compared with published health guidelines and federal legal limits; we do not make conclusions about anyone's health. Data may be one to three years old and may not reflect water at your tap.