PFAS Water Filter in Homestead

PFAS in plain terms

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been used since the mid-1900s in nonstick cookware, stain- and water-resistant fabrics, food packaging and some firefighting foams. They break down extremely slowly, so they turn up in water, soil and people nationwide. PFOA and PFOS are the most studied; others include PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and HFPO-DA, sometimes called GenX.

Homestead's results and where to find them

Homestead's 2025 report explains that the city participated in UCMR5, an EPA program that measures unregulated contaminants to help decide whether they should be regulated, and that it must publish those results. The PFAS table lists a Hazard Index along with HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS and PFOA, each with the 2025 sampling date and average result.

Read the table on homesteadfl.gov yourself rather than relying on secondhand summaries. Note which values are averages and what units they use. Living Water does not interpret results as a safety verdict.

Outside the city on WASD water? WASD's own Water Quality Report has a PFAS table for its systems.

Certification is the only shortcut

• NSF/ANSI 53 covers filtration systems for specific health-related reduction claims.
• NSF/ANSI 58 covers reverse osmosis systems.
• The listing must name PFOA and PFOS reduction, or the specific PFAS claim you care about.
• Verify the exact model number on the certifier's listing, and follow its replacement schedule, because the claim holds only within rated capacity.

Reading the table without panic or dismissal

A few tips for making sense of any PFAS table, Homestead's included:

• Units: PFAS are reported in parts per trillion (ppt), a very small unit.
• Average vs. range: check whether a number is an average of several samples or a single highest result.
• Regulated vs. unregulated: Homestead's 2025 report lists these results under unregulated contaminants, the UCMR5 section, and explains that no health standards had been set for that table at the time of monitoring.
• Follow-up: questions about the results go to the utility; the report lists the Water and Wastewater Treatment Division as the contact.

Our position

Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS. If PFAS is your priority, Jorge will tell you to check the certification listing of any model you consider. What he can help with is the rest of the picture: under-sink alkaline RO for drinking water, whole-home filtration for chlorine taste and odor, and well treatment for rural properties.

Private wells and PFAS

Well water is not covered by the city's report. A certified laboratory can test a well for PFAS; ask which method and which compounds it reports. The Florida Department of Health also suggests asking your local health department about extra tests based on nearby land use.

Questions? Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.

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