PFAS Forever Chemicals in South Florida Water: The Complete Guide for Miami to Jupiter Homeowners
If you live anywhere between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County, you need to read this. PFAS contamination in South Florida's water supply is more widespread than most residents realize, and these "forever chemicals" pose serious long-term health risks that can't be ignored.
What Are PFAS and Why Should You Care?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, but you'll usually hear them called "forever chemicals"—and that nickname tells you everything you need to know. These synthetic compounds literally don't break down. Not in the environment, not in water systems, and not in your body.
Created in the 1940s, PFAS have been used in thousands of everyday products: nonstick pans, waterproof jackets, stain-resistant carpets, food packaging, and most critically for South Florida—firefighting foam used at airports and military bases.
Here's what makes PFAS particularly dangerous: the carbon-fluorine bond that makes them so useful in manufacturing is one of the strongest bonds in chemistry. That's great if you want a pan that nothing sticks to. It's terrible when those same chemicals end up in your drinking water, because they accumulate in your body and never leave.
Why South Florida Has a Serious PFAS Problem
Our region faces a perfect storm of PFAS contamination sources:
Major Airports: Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Palm Beach International Airport have all used PFAS-laden firefighting foam for decades during training exercises and emergency responses. That foam doesn't just disappear—it seeps into the Biscayne Aquifer that supplies our drinking water.
Military Installations: Homestead Air Reserve Base and Coast Guard facilities have been identified as significant PFAS contamination sources. Military firefighting training has released massive amounts of PFAS into South Florida's groundwater.
Porous Geology: Remember how I mentioned our limestone aquifer is like a sponge? That's even worse for PFAS. While some contaminants get filtered as they move through soil, PFAS travel easily through our porous bedrock, spreading contamination across wide areas.
Industrial Activity: From Miami's shipping ports to manufacturing facilities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties, industrial discharge has released PFAS into water systems for decades.
High Population Density: More people means more PFAS sources—from dry cleaners to landfills to wastewater treatment plants that weren't designed to remove these chemicals.
Recent testing shows the scope of the problem. A 2024 University of Florida study found PFAS in 63% of the state's freshwater springs, including several that feed into South Florida's water supply. Testing in Miami Beach detected PFAS levels of 47-58 parts per trillion (ppt)—more than 10 times the EPA's new safety limit of 4 ppt.
Where PFAS Contamination is Worst in South Florida
Miami-Dade County: The highest PFAS levels in our region. Areas near Miami International Airport show concentrations of 47-58 ppt for PFOS alone. Miami Beach, Hialeah, and communities near Homestead Air Reserve Base are particularly affected. Even areas that seem far from these sources show elevated levels due to aquifer contamination spreading underground.
Broward County: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a major contamination source. Testing in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood has detected multiple PFAS compounds. Western communities like Weston and Parkland, despite being far from industrial areas, still show PFAS presence from aquifer contamination.
Palm Beach County: Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach is a known PFAS source. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach have all detected PFAS in water systems. Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens generally show lower levels but aren't immune—testing has found PFAS even in these northern communities.
Private Wells: If you're on well water anywhere in South Florida, you're at higher risk. Wells draw directly from the aquifer without the treatment that municipal systems provide. Testing of private wells in rural areas of western Palm Beach County has revealed PFAS levels exceeding 20 ppt.
The Real Health Risks (What the Studies Actually Show)
Let's talk about what PFAS exposure actually does to your body. This isn't fearmongering—this is what peer-reviewed medical research has documented.
Cancer Risk: Multiple studies link PFAS exposure to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and thyroid cancer. The EPA classifies PFOA and PFOS (two common PFAS compounds) as likely carcinogens. A 2024 study found that people with higher PFAS blood levels had significantly increased cancer rates.
Immune System Damage: This one hits close to home for families with kids. PFAS exposure reduces vaccine effectiveness in children and increases infection rates. During the COVID pandemic, researchers found that people with higher PFAS levels had weaker immune responses.
Liver Problems: PFAS accumulates in liver tissue and interferes with normal liver function. Blood tests of people with high PFAS exposure often show elevated liver enzymes, indicating damage.
Thyroid Disruption: Your thyroid controls metabolism, energy levels, and development. PFAS interferes with thyroid hormones, potentially causing weight gain, fatigue, and in children, developmental delays.
Reproductive Issues: Studies show PFAS affects fertility in both men and women. It's also linked to pregnancy complications including preeclampsia and low birth weight.
Cholesterol Problems: Oddly enough, one of the most consistent findings is that PFAS exposure raises cholesterol levels, increasing heart disease risk.
Developmental Effects: For pregnant women and young children, PFAS exposure during critical development periods can affect growth, learning, and behavior. Some studies suggest links to ADHD and other neurodevelopmental issues.
Here's the scariest part: PFAS accumulates in your blood and organs over time. The biological half-life of PFOS (the time it takes for half of it to leave your body) is about 5 years. For PFOA, it's about 4 years. That means if you stop all PFAS exposure today, it would still take decades for your body to fully eliminate what's already there.
And since we're all exposed continuously through water, food, and products, PFAS levels in most Americans keep increasing over time.
How to Test Your South Florida Water for PFAS
Standard water quality tests don't include PFAS—you need specialized testing. Here's how to do it right.
Municipal Water Users: Check your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report first. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, Broward County Water and Wastewater Services, and Palm Beach County Water Utilities are all required to test for PFAS and report results. You can find these reports online.
However, municipal testing shows average levels across the system. Your home might have higher or lower levels depending on your specific location and plumbing.
Private Well Owners: You absolutely must test. There's no way to know your PFAS levels without testing, and well water often has higher contamination than treated municipal water.
Testing Options:
Laboratory Testing: The most accurate method. Florida Department of Health maintains a list of certified labs. Cost is typically $250-400 for a comprehensive PFAS panel testing for multiple compounds. We recommend testing for at least PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX compounds.
Home Test Kits: Companies like Tap Score and SimpleLab offer mail-in test kits for $150-300. You collect the sample at home and mail it to their certified lab. Results come back in 2-3 weeks.
Professional Testing: Water Wizards offers comprehensive PFAS testing as part of our free water quality assessment for South Florida residents. We test for all major PFAS compounds and provide detailed analysis of your results.
When to Test: Test if you're within 5 miles of an airport, military base, landfill, or industrial area. Also test if you're on well water, in older neighborhoods with aging infrastructure, or if you've noticed your water utility issuing PFAS-related notices.
PFAS Removal: What Actually Works
Not all water filters remove PFAS. In fact, most basic filters don't touch them. Here's what the research shows actually works.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: This is the gold standard for PFAS removal. RO filters remove 95-99% of PFAS compounds by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane that PFAS molecules can't pass through.
For South Florida homes, we typically recommend under-sink RO systems for drinking and cooking water. Cost ranges from $300-800 for DIY systems or $800-2,000 for professional installation with higher capacity.
Important note: RO systems also remove beneficial minerals, so some people prefer systems with a remineralization stage that adds healthy minerals back in.
Activated Carbon Filters: Not all carbon filters are created equal. For PFAS removal, you need specific types:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters remove 50-70% of PFAS when new, but effectiveness drops over time
Carbon Block filters generally perform better than GAC for PFAS
Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 401 certification specifically for PFAS removal
Carbon filters are more affordable ($50-400) and easier to maintain than RO systems, making them a good option for moderate PFAS levels or as a supplement to whole-house filtration.
Ion Exchange Systems: These remove PFAS by exchanging them with non-harmful ions. They're highly effective (up to 95% removal) but require professional installation and regular resin replacement. Best for whole-house systems where you want PFAS protection at every tap.
What Doesn't Work:
Boiling water (actually concentrates PFAS as water evaporates)
Brita or PUR pitcher filters (not designed for PFAS)
Basic sediment or chlorine filters
UV purification (kills microorganisms but doesn't remove chemicals)
Water softeners (remove hardness minerals, not PFAS)
The Water Wizards Approach to PFAS Protection in South Florida
We've been dealing with South Florida's unique water contamination issues for years, and PFAS has become one of our primary focuses. Here's how we approach it:
Step 1: Comprehensive Testing We test your water for all major PFAS compounds, not just PFOA and PFOS. Many homes have elevated levels of other PFAS types that standard testing misses.
Step 2: Custom System Design Based on your PFAS levels and water usage, we design a system that makes sense for your home and budget. A family of four in Miami Beach with 50 ppt PFAS needs a different solution than a couple in Jupiter with 8 ppt levels.
Step 3: Strategic Installation For most South Florida homes with moderate to high PFAS, we recommend:
Point-of-use RO system at the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water
Whole-house carbon filtration to reduce PFAS in shower and bath water (yes, you absorb PFAS through your skin)
Optional: additional RO for bathroom faucets used for brushing teeth
Step 4: Maintenance and Monitoring PFAS filters need regular replacement to maintain effectiveness. We set up a maintenance schedule and can monitor your system's performance remotely. Carbon filters typically need replacement every 6 months, RO membranes every 2-3 years.
What About Bottled Water?
A lot of people ask if they should just switch to bottled water. The short answer: it's not the solution you think it is.
Recent testing found PFAS in multiple bottled water brands, sometimes at levels comparable to tap water. Brands sourcing from municipal systems often have similar contamination to that municipality's tap water. Spring water brands show varying results depending on the source.
Plus, bottled water creates massive environmental problems (plastic waste), costs significantly more over time, and you still have PFAS exposure from showering, washing dishes, and cooking.
If you're concerned about PFAS, filtration is a better long-term solution than bottled water.
EPA Regulations and What's Coming
In April 2024, the EPA set the first-ever federal drinking water limits for PFAS:
4 ppt maximum for PFOA and PFOS individually
10 ppt for certain other PFAS compounds
Monitoring and enforcement required by 2027
This is a big deal because previously there were no federal limits—only state-level guidelines that varied widely.
For South Florida residents, this means:
Your water utility must test for PFAS and report results
Systems exceeding limits must install treatment by 2027
You'll start seeing PFAS levels in annual water quality reports
However, 2027 is still a few years away, and current data shows many South Florida communities already exceed these new limits. That's why we recommend taking action now rather than waiting for utility compliance.
Take Action Now
If you live in South Florida, especially in areas near airports, military bases, or industrial zones, testing your water for PFAS should be a priority. The health risks are real, the contamination is widespread, and effective solutions exist.
Don't wait for symptoms or rely on municipal averages that might not reflect your home's specific contamination level.
Get started today:
Schedule a free PFAS water test with Water Wizards
Review your utility's latest water quality report
If levels exceed 4 ppt, consider installing certified PFAS removal systems
We serve all of South Florida from Miami-Dade through Broward and Palm Beach counties, with special expertise in the unique contamination challenges facing our region.
Your family deserves water that's actually clean—not water that just meets outdated standards. Let's test your water and fix any problems we find.
Call Water Wizards or visit waterwizards.ai to schedule your free PFAS water quality assessment.
Water Wizards specializes in PFAS removal systems designed specifically for South Florida's water challenges. Our solutions are backed by independent testing and EPA-certified for PFAS removal effectiveness.
