Are PFAS Forever Chemicals In Your Sarasota Drinking Water?

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” are present in Sarasota’s drinking water supply. The question is: how much—and is it too much? The latest federal monitoring data shows results that border the current proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for these contaminants in tap water. As concern grows over man-made chemicals that resist breakdown, Sarasota County continues to monitor and assess drinking water quality in both municipal and community water systems.

As of May 2025, Sarasota County, Florida, is actively addressing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in its water sources through updated federal drinking water standards. These efforts are being guided by public health authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first enforceable federal standards for six PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and PFBS. These harmful substances now have federally mandated Maximum Contaminant Levels of:

Public water utilities and active water systems are now required to conduct drinking water testing and adopt treatment byproducts mitigation strategies by 2029 to protect environmental and public health.

Sarasota County Public Utilities has begun PFAS testing under the EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). Results indicate that local levels are currently below the legal limit outlined by both the federal government and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The City of Sarasota also conducted water sampling in December 2023 with no PFAS detections reported in its drinking water supply. Details are available in the annual drinking water quality report.

Florida passed legislation (HB 1475 and SB 7012) in June 2022 requiring the FDEP to set cleanup levels for PFAS, further supporting drinking water regulation statewide. Sarasota is one of many counties in Southwest Florida working to comply with both state and federal health-based drinking water standards for harmful contaminants.

Residents who rely on private wells are especially vulnerable to unregulated contaminants like PFAS. While state regulations don’t mandate well testing, annual checks for nitrate, bacteria, and other drinking water contaminants are highly recommended.

Culligan offers EPA-compliant water testing services to help ensure your well meets public health goals and protects your home from excessive exposure to harmful chemicals.

You can’t control environmental PFAS contamination, but you can protect your household with proven advanced filtration systems.

The good news is that PFAS can be removed from the entire water supply using treatment methods such as:

These systems are effective at targeting common contaminants like PFAS, haloacetic acids, nitrate, and even barium in drinking water.

Culligan’s Whole House Filtration Systems offer comprehensive water care solutions, removing PFAS, chlorate, and other treatment byproducts from all the water flowing through your plumbing. This means cleaner water from every faucet—backed by a system designed for optimal water purity.

A Culligan Water Expert can help you identify the best system for your specific ZIP code, based on the concentrations of PFAS and other contaminants in your area.

Some pitcher filters claim to reduce PFAS levels, but not all offer equal protection.Filters with activated carbon may reduce certain PFAS compounds, but their performance varies by brand and design.

To ensure maximum effectiveness against polyfluoroalkyl substances, choose filters tested for PFAS reduction—such as Culligan’s whole home systems, which are engineered to meet or exceed health risk limits.

Sarasota’s water contamination risk is influenced by its proximity to:

These areas have used firefighting foams and other PFAS-containing materials that seeped into groundwater. Over time, these harmful chemicals can accumulate in local water sources, posing a health risk to nearby residents.

Industrial sectors in Sarasota—such as construction, textiles, and chemical manufacturing—may also contribute to PFAS in the drinking water supply. Culligan of Sarasota helps identify these risks and deploys targeted filtration solutions for clean tap water.

A government-funded report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found strong evidence that being exposed to PFAS could lead to health issues like weaker vaccine responses, kidney cancer, and underweight newborns. They suggested that areas with high PFAS exposure should do blood tests and health checkups for people with significant exposure. The report also noted a probable link, though with less certainty, between PFAS exposure and thyroid issues, pregnancy-related preeclampsia, and certain types of cancers.

A recent study focusing on Air Force service members was released in July of this year. This study went even further, directly connecting PFAS exposure to a specific type of testicular cancer that makes up around 95% of cases. 

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young adult men. Among those in the military, especially men aged 18 to 40, it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer. To prove this connection, researchers used samples from over 62 million service members' blood collected between 1988 and 2017. They looked at samples from 530 troops who later got testicular cancer and 530 who did not. A second round of sampling four years later showed that higher levels of PFAS were linked to a higher risk of testicular cancer.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, PFAS, known for their oil and water resistance, non-stick, and fire-resistant qualities, are commonly added to various everyday products used by most Americans such as the following:

A class action lawsuit alleges Simply Tropical and Simply Orange beverages have been promoted as "All Natural" and made with "all-natural ingredients." Nevertheless, the lawsuit contends that lab tests conducted on Simply Tropical contradict these claims, revealing the presence of PFAS, artificial chemicals that are not natural.

An analysis by Toxic-Free Future tested 60 items from various categories, discovering that 35 products, mostly leggings and yoga pants, had fluorine levels exceeding 100 parts per million, a strong PFAS indicator. Among the brands tested were Lululemon and Old Navy. Of these, three-quarters contained banned long-chain PFAS compounds. Notably, 28% of the tested products contained PFAS, with 34 out of 47 items with water-resistance claims showing PFAS presence. An additional investigation also found PFAS in popular sportswear brands, raising questions about long-term exposure risks associated with PFAS-coated clothing.

The Thinx underwear brand was involved in a lawsuit alleging their products contained PFAS after they marketed their products as a safe, sustainable product, free of harmful chemicals. The period underwear company has settled a lawsuit regarding allegations of inadequate product effectiveness and misleading advertising.

According to Green Matters, Consumer Reports detailed the levels of PFAS found in many popular carbonated water brands. Topo Chico, owned by Coca-Cola Co., was an extreme outlier containing 9.76 parts per trillion. Most brands tested were only slightly above 1 part per trillion, with Poland Spring at 1.66, Canada Dry at 1.24, LaCroix at 1.16 and Perrier at 1.1. As for non-carbonated water, Deer Park tested at 1.21 parts per trillion.

A study of communities near DuPont’s Washington Works facility revealed elevated PFOA blood levels linked to tap water consumption, locally grown food, and poor filtration. Carbon filters were shown to reduce PFOA concentrations by up to 60%.

A 2024 government-funded study examined the connection between exposure to PFAS and testicular cancer among military personnel. It found that service members with higher PFAS levels—especially young men aged 18 to 40—had a significantly higher risk of developing testicular cancer, one of the most common cancers in that demographic.

The EPA recommends blood testing for individuals living near known PFAS-contaminated sites and has suggested new regulations that lower the one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level.

Culligan’s PFAS water filters, including multi-stage filtration systems, are designed to meet these evolving health guidelines and reduce exposure to cancer-causing contaminants and other forms in drinking water such as:

Whether you're in Sarasota, Manatee County, or another part of Southwest Florida, you deserve safe drinking water that protects your family’s health.

Culligan’s sustainable solutions help you avoid costly bottled water purchases and reduce your exposure to excess formation of dangerous byproducts. With customized water treatment systems, you can prevent developmental delays, harm to bones, and even thyroid disease caused by long-term PFAS exposure.