Is there PFAS in Winter Haven Water Department water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Winter Haven Water Department averaged 5.8 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.4 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Winter Haven Water Department is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Winter Haven, Florida, serving about 87,537 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 18 times across 9 sampling points between Oct 2023 and Apr 2024.

Every PFAS detected

Not detected: PFMBA, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, NFDHA, PFPeA, PFEESA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFPeS, PFMPA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFHxA, PFDoA, PFHpS, PFDA, PFHpA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, PFNA.

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

• City of Daytona Beach 2 PFAS detected
• Fkaa J. Robert Dean W.t.p. above an EPA limit
• City of North Miami above an EPA limit
• Plantation, East ; Central none detected
• Naples Water Dept above an EPA limit
• Winter Park, City of (3 Wps) none detected

All 409 tested systems in Florida

ZIP codes served

33880 33881 33884

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 Winter Haven Water Department water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID FL6531992. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/florida/winter-haven-water-department/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID FL6531992). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.