PFAS Water Filter in Key Biscayne

PFAS in brief

PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals used in products that resist heat, water, grease and stains, and in some firefighting foams. They break down very slowly. EPA has set national drinking water standards for several PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, with monitoring and compliance phased in over several years.

Where to see the numbers for the island

• WASD 2025 Water Quality Report: a separate "additional contaminants" table lists PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and a PFAS Hazard Index for the Main System, the column that covers Key Biscayne.
• WASD's explanation: initial compliance monitoring is underway, systems must report results in water quality reports beginning with the 2027 reports, and MCL violation reporting starts in 2029. WASD says it is taking measures to comply.
• EPA UCMR 5: EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule collected PFAS data nationwide.

PFAS are reported in parts per trillion, so read units carefully.

Certification that matters

• NSF/ANSI 53: filters for health-related contaminants; can include PFOA and PFOS reduction.
• NSF/ANSI 58: reverse osmosis systems; can include PFOA and PFOS reduction.

Certification belongs to a specific model. Look up the model number in the certifier's database and confirm PFOA and PFOS appear.

Our position

Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS. If PFAS is your concern, Jorge will help you understand drinking water options and point you to certification listings so you can verify any model. PFAS testing requires a certified laboratory; the free in-home test covers taste, odor and scale factors.

For island condos

Point-of-use treatment at the kitchen sink is where most condo owners address drinking water. If you buy a certified model, change filters on schedule; certified performance assumes it. See best drinking water system on Key Biscayne.

Reading the PFAS table

The PFAS table in WASD's report has three numbers worth knowing for each compound: the federal MCL, the federal goal, and the system's result with a range. The table is marked as monitoring that is not yet subject to violation reporting, which is why the violation column shows N/A for now. Read the footnotes, which explain the timeline. Your own home result could be measured only by a certified lab.

Questions to ask any seller

• Which exact model is certified, under 53 or 58?
• Are both PFOA and PFOS on the listing?
• What capacity is the certification based on?
• Does the certification cover the system as installed?

Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974 with questions.

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