Per- and Polkyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

For Community Water Systems and Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems 

On April 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended 40 CFR Part 141, to incorporate monitoring and compliance requirements for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for all community water systems and non-transient non- community systems. On May 14, 2025, EPA announced it intended to propose changes to the current National Primary Drinking Water for PFAS. These proposed changes included reconsidering and rescinding the maximum containment levels for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX), and the Hazard Index. EPA's announcement also proposed to extend the compliance date for the MCLs 2031. The Department is filing a primacy extension to EPA for more time to adopt the revised PFAS regulations when final. During this time the Department will provide technical assistance to systems, collect and report data, and manage records regarding PFAS on EPA’s behalf, however EPA would conduct any formal enforcement. If you have any questions, please contact your local DEP regulatory district office or approved county health department (ACHD), or PFAS_NPDWR@FloridaDEP.gov.  

Initial Sampling Requirements

All community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems must conduct initial monitoring or obtain approval to use previously collected monitoring data for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by April 26, 2027. The May 14, 2025, EPA announcement did did not indicate that the above initial monitoring requirements would be revised or extended by EPA. Initial monitoring requirements are based on the size of the system and the system’s source water.

• All Surface Water Systems regardless of population size.
• Quarterly within a 12-month period.
• Samples must be collected 2 to 4 months apart.
• Groundwater Systems serving  more than 10,000 customers.
• Quarterly within a 12-month period.
• Samples must be collected 2 to 4 months apart.
• Groundwater Systems serving  less than or equal to 10,000 customers.
• Twice within a 12-month period.
• Samples must be collected 5 to 7 months apart.

Key Points to Consider

• Sampling must be conducted at each entry point of the system, under normal/representative operating conditions.
• Either Monthly or Quarterly Sampling has to begin early enough for the required sampling noted above, so that the results can be submitted prior to the current deadline of April 26, 2027.
• To reduce costs for systems, systems can request to use previously collected monitoring data to satisfy some or all the initial monitoring requirements, if the sampling was conducted using EPA Methods 533 or 537.1 as part of UCMR 5, state-level, or other appropriate monitoring campaigns.
• The state of Florida has not yet obtained primacy over the PFAS requirements, in part as we are anticipating changes to the national primary drinking water regulations for PFAS in accordance with EPA's May 14, 2025, announcement as discussed further below. Util such time the state receives approval for primacy or enters into a primacy extension, EPA Region 4 directly regulates all PFAS requirements for drinking water systems.

Compliance Monitoring 

All community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems would be required to begin monitoring for compliance with the MCL on April 26, 2027. The monitoring frequency will depend on the results of the initial monitoring. 

• Quarterly Monitoring: Quarterly monitoring is required at an entry point to the distribution system if during initial, compliance, or annual monitoring a PFAS concentration is at or above a trigger level, or one half of the maximum contaminant limit. Trigger levels are defined as follows:

• Annual Monitoring: A system may conduct annual morning when the quarterly sample results are reliability and consistently below the MCL for at least for consecutive quarters of data collected during the compliance mentoring period for all regulated PFAS.
• Triennial Monitoring: A system may conduct triennial monitoring if, at the start of compliance monitoring no regulated PFAS are present at or above any trigger level during the initial monitoring, during compliance monitoring no regulated PFAS are at concentrations at or above trigger levels, or during compliance monitoring no annual samples for three consecutive years contain any regulated PFAS concentrations at or above trigger levels. 

MCL Violations

All community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems would currently be required to comply with the maximum contaminant limit for the PFAS contaminants is required by April 26, 2029. However, EPA announced its intention to extend this deadline to 2031. However, until any proposed changes become final, the compliance date remains April 26, 2029. A system will violate a MCL for PFAS contaminants if an annual average of 4 quarterly samples exceeds the listed concentration for the contaminant. However, if a single sample result will cause an exceedance of the MCL for the year’s average, regardless of subsequent quarterly samples, the system is out of compliance immediately. If any sampling point exceeds the MCL for a PFAS contaminant, the entire system is in violation of the MCL.

Assistance for Systems

• There are resources available to eligible community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems that are facing challenges related to PFAS.
  • EPA provides free water technical assistance (WaterTA) for systems in complying with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and also assist systems with applying for federal funding. Get more information on WaterTA.
  • Working with the Florida Rural Water Association, the Department has arranged for technical assistance for systems. More information on what FRWA can provide in relation to PFAS is available from their website.
  • Finally, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program can provide low-interest loans to systems for planning, designing, and constructing public water facilities. In addition, small, disadvantaged communities may also be eligible for part of the loan’s principal to be forgiven.