Is there PFAS in Palm Beach County Water Utilities water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Palm Beach County Water Utilities averaged 19.0 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 4.8 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Palm Beach County Water Utilities
Serves 671,114 people · 8 PFOA samples from 4 sampling points · Nov 2024 to Aug 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
8.2 ppt avg · max 9.0
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
19.0 ppt avg · max 20.0
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
6.3 ppt avg · max 6.4
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.6 avg · max 0.6
Also detected, no federal limit: 6:2 FTS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFBA, PFHpA.
Palm Beach County Water Utilities is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, serving about 671,114 people, including Pompano Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 8 times across 4 sampling points between Nov 2024 and Aug 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFTA, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, PFUnA, ADONA, PFTrDA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFDoA, PFDA, PFNA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, HFPO-DA.
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
33065 33137 33323 33401 33402 33403 33404 33405 33406 33407 33408 33409 33410 33411 33412 33413 33414 33415 33416 33417 33419 33420 33421 33422 33424 33425 33426 33427 33428 33431 33432 33433 33434 33435 33436 33437 33444 33445 33446 33449 33460 33461 33462 33463 33464 33466 33467 33469 33470 33471 33472 33473 33474 33478 33480 33483 33484 33486 33487 33496 33498 33646 33743
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 Palm Beach County Water Utilities water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID FL4504393. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/florida/palm-beach-county-water-utilities/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID FL4504393). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
