PFAS Water Filter in South Miami

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 explains the federal drinking water rules on its PFAS pages.

What WASD reports

WASD's 2025 report has a separate table for contaminants with recently set standards. It lists PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and a PFAS Hazard Index for the main system that serves South Miami, alongside the federal limits. The report explains that initial compliance monitoring is underway, that systems must meet the new limits within five years of the rule, and that compliance results will appear in reports starting in 2027. Read the table yourself in the report, or ask WASD at 786-552-4181.

EPA also publishes nationwide UCMR 5 data by water system.

Choosing a PFAS filter

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

Living Water does not claim its systems remove PFAS. Check any model's certification before buying, including anything Jorge shows you.

What the new rules mean in plain words

EPA set enforceable limits for several PFAS in 2024. Water systems first complete initial monitoring, then must meet the limits by the compliance date. WASD's report says it is taking measures to comply within the required time. That timeline is the utility's responsibility; at home, your choice is simply whether you want an additional, certified point-of-use filter.

Reading the table

Values in the PFAS table are in parts per trillion, with the highest result shown first and the range in parentheses. The federal limit column and the note that compliance monitoring is underway sit next to them. If anything is unclear, WASD's lab line is the right place to ask, and Jorge is happy to walk through the report with you in plain words.

Testing

PFAS testing requires 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 you do order a lab test, ask the lab which PFAS compounds its method covers and what its reporting limits are, so you can compare the result with the utility's table.

Private wells

A private well in South Miami is not covered by any utility data. A certified lab is the only way to know. See well water in South Miami.

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