PFAS Water Filter in Plantation

What PFAS are

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large group of man-made chemicals valued for durability and resistance to water and stains. The City of Plantation's PFAS page notes they have been widely used since the 1940s, do not break down naturally, and reach people mostly through sources other than drinking water; the city cites an EPA estimate that 80 percent of exposure comes from other sources such as food, products and household dust.

What Plantation reports

• UCMR 5: the city completed sampling for the EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule in 2024. All PFAS and lithium tested at the points of entry were below the minimum reporting level, according to the 2025 Water Quality Report.
• Ongoing monitoring: the report says the city is conducting continuous monitoring of the EPA-listed PFAS compounds.
• Treatment: the city has used nanofiltration at its plants since the 1990s and describes it as one of the strongest defenses against contaminants, including PFAS.

Details are on the city's PFAS page, linked from the Utilities Department site.

How to judge a home PFAS filter

• Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (filtration) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) certification that specifically lists PFOA and PFOS reduction.
• Confirm the listing covers the exact model number.
• Change cartridges on schedule; certified performance applies only within rated capacity.

Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS. Whatever you consider, from any company, ask to see that specific model's certification.

What the free home test covers

Jorge's in-home test measures chloramine, hardness, dissolved solids and pH, the factors behind taste, odor and scale. It does not measure PFAS; that requires a certified laboratory. Jorge can walk you through the city's published results and the difference between a home screening and a lab analysis. See home screening vs. lab analysis.

Reducing PFAS exposure beyond the tap

Because the city points out that most PFAS exposure comes from sources other than drinking water, its PFAS page encourages simple habits: paying attention to products such as stain-resistant treatments, water-repellent items and certain cookware, and to food and household dust. A filter is only one part of the picture, which is another reason to weigh the city's published results before buying equipment.

Private wells

The city's PFAS results apply to city water only. An irrigation or private well on your property is not covered; a certified lab is the way to test it.

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