PFAS Water Filter in Belle Glade

What PFAS are

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are man-made chemicals used in products such as nonstick cookware, water-repellent fabrics and some firefighting foams. They break down very slowly in the environment. The U.S. EPA explains its drinking water actions on PFAS on its website.

What UCMR 5 is

The EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule required public water systems to sample for 29 PFAS and lithium between 2023 and 2025, to learn how common they are in drinking water. Results are reported in each utility's Water Quality Report. PBCWUD reports the Western and Eastern regions separately; the Western Region result is the one that applies to Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay.

Lithium was part of the same monitoring. UCMR results help the EPA decide whether future regulation is needed.

Belle Glade's result

For the Western Region, PBCWUD's 2025 report says: UCMR 5 testing was completed and no contaminants were detected during the 2025 sampling period. The Eastern Region, which serves coastal and central communities from a different aquifer, reported low-level detections of some PFAS. That difference is a good example of why the source matters: Belle Glade's water comes from the deep Floridan Aquifer, 1,000 to 1,200 feet down.

Private wells

A private well is not covered by any utility report. Standard bacteria and nitrate tests do not include PFAS. If you want to know, ask a certified laboratory about PFAS analysis for drinking water and follow its sampling instructions closely.

Choosing a PFAS filter

• Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) certification for PFOA/PFOS reduction.
• Verify the exact model in the certifier's listing.
• Replace cartridges on schedule.

Living Water does not claim that its systems remove PFAS. Jorge will tell you to check any model's listing for that specific claim.

Reverse osmosis systems and certain carbon block filters are the product types most often certified for PFOA/PFOS reduction, but certification is by model, not by technology. A filter that is not listed for PFAS should not be assumed to reduce it, whatever the marketing says.

Talk it through

Jorge can walk you through the report and test for everyday issues like chlorine, hardness and TDS. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist