Is there PFAS in Emerald Coast Utilities Authority water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Emerald Coast Utilities Authority averaged 24.2 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 6.0 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
Serves 242,172 people · 54 PFOA samples from 27 sampling points · Apr 2023 to Sep 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
15.6 ppt avg · max 25.8
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
24.2 ppt avg · max 35.7
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
30.0 ppt avg · max 55.3
PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid
14.8 ppt avg · max 16.2
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
4.5 avg · max 5.5
Also detected, no federal limit: 6:2 FTS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFHpA, PFBS, PFPeS, 4:2 FTS.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Pensacola, Florida, serving about 242,172 people, including Pensacola, Cantonment, Gulf Breeze, Orange Beach. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 54 times across 27 sampling points between Apr 2023 and Sep 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFMBA, PFDoA, NFDHA, PFDA, PFHpS, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFEESA, PFUnA, PFTA, 8:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFMPA, HFPO-DA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Florida
All 409 tested systems in Florida
ZIP codes served
32501 32502 32503 32504 32505 32506 32507 32508 32509 32511 32514 32526 32533 32534 32561 32562 36561
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Emerald Coast Utilities Authority water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID FL1170525. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/florida/emerald-coast-utilities-authority/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID FL1170525). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
