PFAS Water Filter in Wellington

What PFAS are

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals used in non-stick cookware, clothing, cosmetics, food packaging and some firefighting foams. They break down very slowly, which is why they are called forever chemicals. Wellington's PFAS page notes they can be found at low levels in groundwater supplies like the one the village uses.

What Wellington is doing

• Testing: voluntary PFAS testing of raw and drinking water since 2020, plus mandatory UCMR 5 sampling for 29 PFAS in 2023.
• Treatment: a Membrane Master Plan to replace all lime softening with nanofiltration. The village notes that lime softening does not effectively remove PFAS, while membrane treatment does.
• Litigation: the village has sued PFAS manufacturers and firefighting foam distributors to help cover treatment costs.

Where to see the numbers

The 2025 Water Quality Report chart has a PFAS table with Wellington's voluntary quarterly 2025 results for each detected compound, next to the federal limits EPA set in April 2024, which take effect in 2029. Compounds below the detection limit are not listed. The village says all results are available on request from its Regulatory Compliance division, (561) 868-8619. EPA also publishes UCMR 5 data by water system.

Choosing a home PFAS filter

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

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

Testing and private wells

PFAS testing needs a certified lab using EPA methods; the free in-home screening covers chloramine, hardness, TDS, pH and iron, not PFAS. On a private well, no utility data applies, so a lab test is the only way to know. See home screening vs. lab analysis.

Reading a PFAS table

PFAS results are usually reported in parts per trillion. A blank or ND means the compound was not detected above the method's limit. The table shows ranges across the sampling dates, and the federal limits listed are those EPA announced in 2024 with compliance required by 2029. If a number is unclear, the village's compliance staff can explain it; Jorge is also happy to read it with you.

Talk it through

Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Jorge will walk you through the village's PFAS table in plain words and test the rest of your water for free.

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