PFAS Water Filter in Hollywood

What PFAS are

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been used since the 1940s in non-stick coatings, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and many other products. They break down very slowly, which is why they are found in water, soil and fish around the world. The city's own PFAS page describes them this way and explains what the EPA and other agencies are doing to study them.

Where to see Hollywood's results

The City of Hollywood's 2025 Water Quality Report includes an unregulated contaminants table from its UCMR 5 sampling, listing PFAS compounds such as PFOA, PFOS, PFBS and PFHxS with the levels detected. The city explains that it publishes these results as part of EPA's study of which contaminants should be regulated.

Read the table yourself in the report linked from the city's Public Utilities page, and call the Water Quality Division at 954-921-3414 with questions. EPA's national PFAS drinking water rules are still being implemented, so check the EPA site for the current status.

How to read the UCMR 5 table

The table lists each PFAS compound, when the city sampled (March 2024 in the 2025 report) and the level detected, in parts per billion. Note the units carefully: PFAS are reported in very small amounts, and many news stories quote parts per trillion. One part per billion equals one thousand parts per trillion. If you are comparing the city's numbers with other sources, convert the units first, and ask the city's Water Quality Division if anything is unclear.

Filters: what certification to look for

• NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon and other filters) and NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) include specific claims for PFOA and PFOS reduction.
• The claim must be on the exact model, not just the brand or technology.
• Look the model up in the certifier's public listing before you buy.

Reverse osmosis and certain carbon systems are the technologies usually certified for these claims, but not every product in those categories carries the certification.

What Jorge can and cannot do

Jorge can walk you through the city's report, explain your options and check whether a model you are considering carries a PFOA/PFOS listing. An in-home screening does not measure PFAS; that needs a certified laboratory. Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS, so if PFAS reduction is your goal, choose based on a verified certification listing.

If you are on a well

Private wells are not part of the city's monitoring. If PFAS is a concern for a well, test it through a certified lab. See well water in Hollywood.

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