PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the "forever chemicals" class, has been the biggest story in U.S. drinking water regulation over the past 24 months. The April 2024 EPA rule set the first enforceable national standards. The May 2025 EPA revision extended compliance to 2031 and rescinded several individual-compound standards. And right in the middle of all this federal activity, Orange County Utilities (OCU) here in Central Florida disclosed PFAS detections at or above the 4 ppt MCL at two of its treatment facilities and approved a $4.5 million remediation engineering contract.
This article covers what the actual numbers are, what Orange County is doing about them, what Toho Water Authority and OUC customers should know, and what practical steps Central Florida homeowners can take right now.
The Current Federal PFAS Rule, Status April 2026
April 10, 2024 (Federal Register April 26, 2024): EPA finalized the first-ever federal PFAS drinking water standards:
- PFOA: MCL 4.0 ppt
- PFOS: MCL 4.0 ppt
- PFHxS: MCL 10 ppt
- PFNA: MCL 10 ppt
- HFPO-DA (GenX): MCL 10 ppt
- Hazard Index (for mixtures): 1.0
Original compliance deadline: 2029.
May 14, 2025: EPA issued a significant revision:
- Kept the 4 ppt MCLs for PFOA and PFOS.
- Extended compliance deadline to 2031 (a two-year extension from the 2029 original).
- Proposed to revoke the MCLs for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS pending re-evaluation.
- Kept initial monitoring requirements at 2027.
As of April 2026, the enforceable standards are PFOA 4 ppt and PFOS 4 ppt. Utilities have until 2031 to meet those limits. The other compounds are no longer directly regulated for drinking water but are still monitored under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5).
Orange County Utilities, The Specific Data
OCU's PFAS test results page (ocfl.net/WaterGarbageRecycling/PFAS/PFASTestResults.aspx) documents detections at multiple facilities. The most significant:
- Malcolm Road facility: approximately 4.7 ppt, above the 4 ppt MCL
- County Road 535 facility: approximately 5 ppt, above the 4 ppt MCL
In February 2025, Orange County approved a $4.5 million engineering contract with Tetra Tech to design and implement PFAS remediation at affected facilities. The contract covers engineering studies, pilot testing, and design of treatment upgrades (likely GAC or ion exchange based on EPA Best Available Technology guidance).
The 2031 compliance deadline gives OCU time to build out full-scale treatment without immediate public health emergency response. But the detections are real and exceed the MCL today.
OUC's Position
Orlando Utilities Commission conducted PFAS sampling in April 2025. OUC's primary water sources are the deep Lower Floridan Aquifer, roughly a quarter-mile down, geologically distant from surface-level PFAS contamination sources. Deep Floridan water typically has lower PFAS exposure than shallow groundwater or surface water because PFAS compounds haven't had time to migrate through the thick confining layers above the Lower Floridan.
OUC customers should consult the utility's most recent published PFAS data and CCR for specific values. As a general pattern, OUC's deep-aquifer sourcing provides structural protection that OCU (which blends multiple sources, including more surficial groundwater) does not have.
Toho Water Authority
Toho participates in UCMR5 monitoring and FDEP's initial PFAS monitoring program. Specific detection values should be pulled from Toho's published water quality reports rather than assumed. As of publication, there are no verified reports of Toho water exceeding the 4 ppt PFOA/PFOS MCLs; do not treat the Orange County detections as Toho detections.
For Toho customers, the more immediate water quality concerns are chloramines, hardness, and occasional hydrogen sulfide, PFAS is not currently a documented problem at Toho but is being monitored.
Potential PFAS Sources in Central Florida
PFAS contamination typically traces to specific, identifiable sources:
- Military and aviation AFFF: Aqueous Film Forming Foam used in firefighter training contains high PFAS concentrations. Orlando MCO (Orlando International Airport) is a potential legacy AFFF source area consistent with the national pattern of airport-adjacent PFAS contamination, though no specific MCO study has been publicly released. The FAA ordered transition to fluorine-free foam (F3) starting in 2023; contamination from pre-2023 AFFF use persists in surrounding soils and groundwater.
- Industrial manufacturing: PFAS have been used in a wide range of manufacturing, coating, and chemical processing. Central Florida's industrial footprint is smaller than, say, the I-4 Tampa corridor, but some legacy sites exist.
- Wastewater treatment plant discharge: PFAS from consumer products (carpets, textiles, paper packaging) reach wastewater streams and survive conventional treatment. Downstream groundwater can be affected.
- Biosolids land application: Historically, some PFAS-containing sludges were land-applied as agricultural amendments. Long-term subsurface contamination is possible at these sites.
What EPA Considers Best Available Technology (BAT)
EPA's 2024 BAT guidance for PFAS removal from drinking water:
- Reverse Osmosis (RO): Up to 99% removal of PFAS6 (the six compounds originally regulated). Most reliable single-technology barrier. Works across short-chain and long-chain PFAS variants.
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): Can reduce PFAS below detection limits with sufficient contact time. Better performance on long-chain PFAS (PFOA, PFOS) than short-chain. Requires regular media changeout, PFAS-loaded carbon must be regenerated or disposed as hazardous waste.
- Ion Exchange (anion resin): 94–99% of PFAS6. Performs better than GAC on short-chain PFAS. Single-use disposal (resins are not regenerated in this application).
For utility-scale implementation, both GAC and ion exchange are typically preferred over RO (RO produces brine waste at utility scale that's difficult to handle). For residential point-of-use treatment, RO is usually the simplest and most effective choice.
What Orange County Customers Should Do Now
With compliance at 2031 and detected PFAS above MCL today, OCU customers have a 5-year window before full remediation. Practical actions:
- Under-sink RO for drinking water. NSF/ANSI 58 certified for PFAS reduction specifically. Cost $400–$900 installed. Covers drinking and cooking water.
- Consider whole-house GAC if you're particularly concerned. NSF/ANSI 53 certified GAC catches PFAS at every tap (shower, bath, laundry). Best-performing for long-chain; less effective for short-chain.
- Follow OCU's updates. As Tetra Tech's engineering work proceeds, the utility will publish treatment milestones.
- Do not rely on pitcher or refrigerator filters for PFAS unless they are specifically certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS reduction. Most basic filters don't catch PFAS.
What OUC and Toho Customers Should Do
Your direct PFAS exposure is currently lower than OCU customers based on available data. But:
- An under-sink RO system is reasonable insurance regardless of utility. RO also handles the chloramines (Toho) or residual chlorine (OUC) at the drinking water tap.
- Review your utility's CCR annually for PFAS monitoring updates.
- If you have infants, immune-compromised family members, or specific health concerns, RO is more strongly justified.
Private Well Owners
If you're on a private well in Central Florida, standard well testing does not include PFAS. The test has to be specifically ordered and run by a lab certified for EPA Method 533 or 537.1. Priority testing for wells near:
- Orlando MCO and surrounding commercial aviation areas
- Industrial sites (historical or current)
- Firefighter training facilities
- Former land-application biosolids sites
Free PFAS-Aware Water Testing
Pure Agua offers free in-home water testing throughout Osceola, Orange, Seminole, and Polk Counties. We review your specific utility's PFAS data, test your tap water for the standard parameters, and discuss PFAS-specific treatment options if the situation warrants. NSF/ANSI 58 RO installations and NSF/ANSI 53 whole-house systems are standard offerings.
5.0★ rated with 200+ Google reviews. Family-owned since 2016. WQA certified. Florida licensed. Bilingual service.
Questions About Your Water?
Pure Agua offers free in-home water testing throughout the Kissimmee and Orlando metro area.
Schedule Free Water Test