PFAS and your drinking water
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals found in many everyday products. Some types can persist in the environment and may affect human health.
PCU delivers clean, quality tap water that meets or exceeds all federal and state standards for safe drinking water. Tampa Bay Water treatment plants are not located near industrial or manufacturing facilities known to produce PFAS materials.
Chemicals like PFAS do not originate in the Tampa Bay Water treated drinking water supply provided to Pinellas County Utilities (PCU) customers. The manufacturing and use of products with PFAS puts PFAS chemicals into the environment where, over time, they may end up in drinking water supplies.
PFAS monitoring and testing results
Pinellas County Utilities monitors drinking water for PFAS. During the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023-2024 monitoring study, PCU conducted quarterly sampling and analysis. PFAS compounds were not detected in the samples collected where water entered the county’s distribution system.
Explore the monitoring results below to learn more about PFAS, drinking water standards and how Pinellas County Utilities monitors water quality.
UCMR5 Results
Quarters 1, 2, 3 and 4 results as reported in September 2023, January 2024, May 2024 and July 2024, respectively.
| Contaminant | Minimum Reporting Level (ug/L) | Results Q1 | Results Q2 | Results Q3 | Results Q4 |
| 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2FTS) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2FTS) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2FTS) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | 0.002 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA)(GenX) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | 0.02 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | 0.004 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | 0.004 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 0.004 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | 0.004 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 0.003 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | 0.004 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | 0.002 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | 0.005 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | 0.006 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | 0.008 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | 0.007 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| *Contaminants with proposed regulatory limits | |||||
| ND Non-Detect: contaminant was analyzed but not detected |
Our wholesale water provider, Tampa Bay Water, conducted its own sampling at upstream points of connection into the Pinellas County Utilities system. The results are posted here. Three of the six PFAS compounds with proposed regulatory limits were detected at these locations at concentrations well below the proposed limits.
PCU strongly supports holding polluters accountable for cleaning up PFAS contamination. Working with Tampa Bay Water and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, we will stay current with scientific and technological updates to continue to meet all regulatory requirements.
Where can I learn more?
- Learn more about the issue.
- Be aware of the many sources of PFAS exposure.
- If you’re concerned about exposure, you can check household product ingredient labels for compounds with “perfluoro” or “polyfluoro” in the name.
- Reach out to manufacturers of non-stick, water-resistant, and stain-resistant products for information about their contents.