PFAS in Florida Drinking Water: What Sarasota Homeowners Need to Know

What Are PFAS?

PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a group of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a wide range of industries since the 1940s. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they contain carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. This means they do not break down naturally in the environment, in water, or in the human body. They accumulate over time — in soil, groundwater, wildlife, and human tissue.

PFAS are found in hundreds of products most people use every day: non-stick cookware coatings (PTFE/Teflon), food packaging, stain-resistant fabric treatments (carpets, upholstery), water-resistant outdoor clothing, and industrial firefighting foam (AFFF — aqueous film-forming foam). When these products are manufactured, used, or disposed of, PFAS leach into the surrounding environment and eventually reach groundwater and surface water sources.

The two most studied PFAS compounds are PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), both of which were phased out of production by major U.S. manufacturers in the early 2000s. However, due to their extreme persistence, they remain detectable in water supplies, soil, and human blood samples across the country decades later.

PFAS in Florida Water Supplies

Florida has some of the highest documented PFAS contamination levels in the United States, largely due to the concentration of military installations throughout the state. Facilities like NAS Whiting Field, Patrick Space Force Base, Tyndall Air Force Base, and MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay all used AFFF firefighting foam for decades during training exercises. The PFAS in that foam soaked into the ground and migrated into the Floridan Aquifer — the primary drinking water source for millions of Floridans.

In the Sarasota-Manatee area, the Peace River and Myakka River watersheds that supply municipal water have been tested for PFAS contamination. While levels in treated municipal water from Charlotte Harbor have generally remained below EPA action levels, a 2023 Environmental Working Group analysis found detectable PFAS in numerous Florida community water systems. Well water users — particularly those in unincorporated areas — have less regulatory oversight and may be drawing from aquifer zones that have not been recently tested.

Health Risks of PFAS Exposure

Research on PFAS health effects has accelerated dramatically over the past decade. The scientific consensus, supported by studies from the National Academies of Sciences, the EPA, and peer-reviewed journals, links chronic PFAS exposure to several serious health conditions.

In 2024, the EPA finalized new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water — the first enforceable federal drinking water standards ever set for these chemicals. The MCL for PFOA and PFOS was set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), individually. For context, 4 ppt is equivalent to roughly 4 drops of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The regulation requires public water systems to test for PFAS and reduce levels below the MCL by 2029.

How to Test Your Water for PFAS

Standard water testing kits available at hardware stores do not test for PFAS — these chemicals require laboratory analysis using EPA Method 533 or EPA Method 537.1, which involve liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Testing must be performed by a state-certified laboratory.

For municipal water customers in Florida, your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) will soon be required to include PFAS results as public water systems comply with the 2024 EPA rule. You can request the most recent report from your water utility. For well water users, you should commission independent PFAS testing, especially if you live near a military installation, airport, or industrial site. Expect to pay $150–$400 for a comprehensive PFAS panel covering 20+ compounds.

The simplest starting point? Our free in-home water test can assess general water quality parameters and help identify whether a comprehensive PFAS lab test is warranted based on your location, water source, and existing symptoms like taste and odor issues.

Treatment Methods That Actually Work

Not all water treatment technologies are effective against PFAS. Boiling water does not remove PFAS — in fact, boiling concentrates them as water evaporates. Standard pitcher filters and basic carbon block filters provide minimal PFAS reduction. Here is what the science says actually works:

What Sarasota Homeowners Should Do

The practical steps for Sarasota-area homeowners depend on your water source. Municipal water customers should stay informed about their utility's PFAS testing results as they become publicly available under the 2024 EPA rule. Even if your municipal water tests below the MCL, treatment at the point of use provides an additional layer of protection — especially for drinking and cooking water consumed by children, pregnant women, or immunocompromised individuals.

Well water customers in Manatee and Sarasota Counties should commission a PFAS lab test if they have not done so within the last two years. The proximity of your well to MacDill AFB (Hillsborough County), fertilizer and phosphate mining operations in eastern Manatee County, or any industrial sites should elevate your concern. If PFAS are detected above EPA MCLs, we recommend installing both a whole-house GAC filter and a point-of-use RO system under the kitchen sink as a layered treatment approach.

For the most cost-effective protection, a 5-stage reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink protects your drinking and cooking water — which accounts for the majority of ingestion exposure. This is the solution we recommend most frequently for Sarasota homeowners who want PFAS protection without a whole-house upgrade.