PFAS Water Filter in Margate

What PFAS are

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been used in non-stick cookware, stain- and water-resistant fabrics, food packaging and some firefighting foams. They break down very slowly. EPA's PFAS pages explain the federal drinking water rules and their timelines.

Because they persist, PFAS have been found at low levels in water across the country, which is why EPA ran nationwide monitoring under UCMR 5 rather than targeting specific places.

What Margate's report lists

The unregulated contaminants table in the 2025 report shows these compounds from August 2024 sampling, in parts per billion: 6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS and PFPeA. Each row gives a single average result. The values are very small fractions of a part per billion, so read the units carefully. EPA also publishes UCMR 5 data by water system.

For questions about the data, the report lists DEES at (954) 972-0828 and [email protected].

How to read it

• Note the unit: ppb. One part per trillion is one-thousandth of a ppb.
• Unregulated means there was no enforceable federal limit when the monitoring was done.
• EPA has since set limits for some PFAS with future compliance dates; its PFAS pages explain them.
• Look for the next report's update.

When you compare any value with an EPA limit, make sure you compare the same compound, the same unit, and the way EPA calculates compliance, usually a running annual average rather than a single sample.

Choosing a PFAS filter

• Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) certification that lists PFOA and PFOS reduction.
• Match the exact model number on the certifier's listing.
• Replace cartridges on schedule; claims only hold within rated capacity.

Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS. Jorge will tell you to check any model's certification before buying, including anything he shows you.

Testing at home

PFAS testing needs a certified lab using EPA methods. Jorge's free screening covers chloramine, hardness, TDS, pH and iron, not PFAS. See home screening vs. lab analysis. If your home uses a private well, no city data applies; a lab test is the only way to know.

If you do order a lab test, ask the lab which EPA method it uses and what its reporting limits are, so the results are comparable with the city's table.

Talk it through

Jorge is happy to walk through the table with you in plain words. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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