PFAS in Bradenton and Sarasota tap water: what the testing actually found.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that break down very slowly. Every local utility tested for 29 of them in EPA's nationwide program. Here are the real results, without the scare tactics.
What PFAS are, in plain English.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of thousands of man-made chemicals, used since the 1940s to make things resist water, grease and stains. Most, including PFOA and PFOS, don't break down in the environment. That's where the nickname "forever chemicals" comes from.
Drinking water is one way in, but not the only one. The EPA lists food, dust, air and everyday products too. It says exposure to certain PFAS may be linked to effects including lower fertility, developmental delays in children, some cancers, weaker immune response and higher cholesterol. Research is ongoing.
- Firefighting foamUsed at places like airports and military bases.
- Industry and waste sitesIncluding landfills and hazardous waste sites.
- Wastewater biosolidsSpread on farmland as fertilizer.
- Household productsStain-resistant fabrics, some food packaging, cookware.
What local testing found.
Between 2023 and 2025, every large utility tested for 29 PFAS under EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). PFOA and PFOS, the two with the strictest limits, were below the reporting limit at every local utility.
The EPA released the final UCMR 5 dataset in 2026. Sampling dates: Bradenton, March 2023 to February 2024. City of Sarasota, December 2023 to July 2024. Manatee County and Palmetto, 2024. Sarasota County, 2025.
- Manatee County UtilitiesNone of the 29 PFAS detected (2024 sampling). Also serves Ellenton, Parrish, Anna Maria Island and unincorporated Lakewood Ranch.
- City of PalmettoIts own water system, tested separately in 2024. None of the 29 PFAS detected.
- City of SarasotaNone detected. The city says a separate round of testing at ten locations with the University of Central Florida also found none.
- City of BradentonFour short-chain PFAS detected at low levels: PFBA 5.9–8.5 ppt, PFPeA 6.5–8.5 ppt, PFHxA 4.6–6.5 ppt, PFBS 3.9–5.2 ppt. Of these, only PFBS is regulated, and only as part of a mixture limit that wasn't triggered.
- Sarasota CountyTwo PFAS at low levels at the Carlton plant only: PFBS 3.3–4.2 ppt and PFPeA 3.1–3.8 ppt. None at Pump Station #1.
- Private wellsNot covered by any of this testing. Only a certified lab test of your own well can tell you.
How to read these numbers.
PFAS are measured in parts per trillion (ppt). Reports often use micrograms per liter instead: 0.004 µg/L is 4 ppt.
"Not detected" means below the minimum reporting level, not zero. For PFOA and PFOS that level was 4 ppt, the same as the EPA limit. And UCMR 5 results don't decide compliance; that comes from each utility's own running annual average.
- NationallyAbout 15.5% of large systems averaged above at least one 2024 limit. None of ours did.
Where the federal rules stand.
In April 2024 the EPA set the first national limits: 4 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt for three others, and a limit for mixtures. Utilities must comply by 2029.
In May 2026 the EPA proposed letting utilities ask for two more years on PFOA and PFOS, and proposed removing the other limits. As of October 2026 those are proposals, and the 2024 limits remain in effect.
One local wrinkle: PFBS, found at low levels in Bradenton and at Sarasota County's Carlton plant, only counts toward the mixture limit. That mixture limit is one of the rules the EPA has proposed to remove.
- April 10, 2024Final rule announced. PFHxS, PFNA and GenX at 10 ppt each.
- May 14, 2025EPA says it will keep the PFOA and PFOS limits.
- May 18, 2026Extension and rollback proposed. Not final.
- 2027Utilities finish initial monitoring and start reporting PFAS results to customers.
If you want PFAS out of your drinking water.
The EPA says certified home filters can greatly reduce PFAS, as long as filters are changed on schedule.
- Reverse osmosis at the kitchen tapThe most thorough option. Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification for PFOA/PFOS reduction.
- Activated carbon filtersLook for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for PFOA/PFOS reduction.
- Check the listingCertification is claim by claim. We'll show you the NSF listing for any system we install.
- Change filters on timeA spent filter stops protecting you. Our fridge card and reminders cover this.
Whole-home or kitchen tap?
For PFAS, the water you drink and cook with is what matters most. The CDC's toxic substances agency says that for most PFAS, showering and bathing in water with PFAS shouldn't significantly increase exposure.
So for PFAS we usually recommend a certified system at the kitchen tap. The EPA's filter guidance covers these point-of-use units. Whole-home systems earn their keep on hard water and chloramine taste, not PFAS.
- Baby formulaATSDR lists formula mixed with PFAS-contaminated water as a way babies are exposed.
- RO trade-offThe EPA notes reverse osmosis wastes about a gallon for every gallon treated.
How to read a certification listing.
"Reduces PFAS" on a box isn't proof. Third-party certification is, and it goes model by model, claim by claim. A filter certified for lead isn't automatically certified for PFAS.
One more caveat, in the EPA's own words: as of April 2024, filter certifications don't yet indicate a filter will reach the new 4 ppt limits. Standards are being updated. The EPA still says lowering PFAS in your water is an effective way to limit exposure.
- Find the exact modelSearch the model number, not the brand, in the NSF certified product listings.
- Look for the PFAS lineThe listing should show a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim under NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon) or 58 (reverse osmosis).
- Other certifiersThe EPA also lists CSA Group, IAPMO, UL and WQA.
- Match your PFASDon't assume a listing covers every PFAS.
On a private well?
In Myakka City, Parrish or anywhere else, if you're on a private well, none of the utility testing above applies to you.
The Florida Department of Health says to always use a state-certified lab, and recommends testing wells for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year. PFAS isn't part of that standard check; you have to ask.
- Find a certified labThe Florida DEP keeps the state's database of certified labs. Ask the lab whether it's certified for PFAS in drinking water.
- Call your county health departmentThey can explain sampling and help you read results.
- Bring us the resultsWe'll go through them with you, even if the answer is you don't need a filter.
Common questions.
Should I worry about PFAS in my tap water?
If you're on Manatee County or City of Sarasota water, federal testing found none above reporting levels. City of Bradenton and parts of Sarasota County showed low levels of short-chain PFAS, and PFOA and PFOS weren't detected anywhere. Whether to add a filter is your call. We'll give you the facts, not a scare.
What does 4 ppt mean?
Four parts per trillion: roughly four drops in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. That's how low the EPA set the PFOA and PFOS limits.
Does a water softener remove PFAS?
No. For PFAS, use reverse osmosis or activated carbon certified for PFOA/PFOS reduction.
I'm on a well. What should I do?
Utility testing doesn't cover private wells. A state-certified lab can test for PFAS; Florida health officials also recommend testing wells yearly for bacteria and nitrate.
Does boiling water remove PFAS?
No. NSF says boiling water that contains PFAS won't reduce your exposure. Use a filter certified for PFOA/PFOS reduction instead.
Do I need a whole-home system for PFAS?
Usually not. ATSDR says that for most PFAS, showering and bathing shouldn't significantly increase exposure. A certified reverse osmosis or carbon system at the kitchen tap covers drinking and cooking water.
Sources
- EPA: PFAS national primary drinking water regulation
- EPA: UCMR 5 data finder (local PFAS results)
- Manatee County Utilities: UCMR 5 results
- City of Sarasota, Water Quality Report
- City of Bradenton, 2025 Water Quality Report
- EPA: Identifying drinking water filters certified to reduce PFAS
- EPA: UCMR 5 data summary (final dataset, July 2026)
- EPA: Health and environmental risks of PFAS
- ATSDR (CDC): PFAS and your health
- NSF: PFAS in drinking water
- NSF: Certified drinking water treatment unit listings
- Florida Department of Health: Private well water testing
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