Miami Water Quality at a Glance
serious concerns
Is Miami Water Safe to Drink?
Technically Compliant, But Major Concerns – Miami’s water meets federal standards but has significant contamination issues that warrant serious attention. The area shows some of the highest documented PFAS levels in Florida with Miami International Airport recording 47 ppt PFOS and Miami-Dade systems showing up to 36 ppt PFOS. Additional major concerns include chromium-6 levels 2-8 times above safe levels and disinfection byproducts.
⚠️ Critical Concerns for Miami Residents
- PFAS “Forever Chemicals”: Miami International Airport: 47 ppt PFOS (2013); Miami-Dade Water: up to 36 ppt PFOS, 11 ppt PFOA detected
- Chromium-6 Crisis: Levels range 38-170 ppt (2-8.5x above safe 20 ppt threshold); known carcinogen with no EPA regulation
- Disinfection Byproducts: High trihalomethane levels from chloramine treatment linked to cancer and reproductive issues
- Rainwater Contamination: 21 different PFAS detected in Miami rainwater – contamination from atmospheric transport
- Biscayne Bay Impact: PFAS contamination in local marine ecosystem affecting fish and marine life
Read the full report below for detailed analysis, neighborhood-specific data, and actionable recommendations for Miami residents.
Miami – Florida – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Contamination, Infrastructure Concerns & Critical Safety Issues across your city
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is one of the largest public utilities in the United States, serving approximately 2.4 million residents across Miami and surrounding areas in Miami-Dade County. The system operates three major water treatment plants, manages over 8,500 miles of water mains, and delivers an average of 300 million gallons of water daily to this dynamic coastal metropolis.
Unlike most American cities, Miami draws nearly all of its drinking water from the Biscayne Aquifer, a shallow groundwater system that lies just below the surface throughout southeastern Florida. This unique geological formation provides naturally filtered water but is highly vulnerable to contamination from surface activities, PFAS pollution, and saltwater intrusion. With average annual rainfall of approximately 60 inches, Miami benefits from regular aquifer recharging but faces increasing challenges from sea level rise, extreme weather events, and widespread chemical contamination. Miami has invested over $8.79 billion in its “Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Program” to upgrade infrastructure, improve resilience, and address emerging contaminants for future generations in this rapidly evolving coastal environment.
Miami Water Quality: Current Status & Contamination Concerns (2024-2025)
Latest Testing Results & Compliance
- Federal Compliance: Miami’s water technically meets all federal and state drinking water standards, maintaining compliance with EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations for regulated contaminants.
- Testing Scope: Miami conducts over 150,000 water quality tests annually across multiple parameters, with extensive monitoring at treatment plants, distribution systems, and customer taps.
- Critical Gap: However, compliance with federal standards does not address emerging contaminants like PFAS or unregulated substances that pose significant health risks to residents.
PFAS Contamination Crisis
- Miami International Airport: Recorded 47 parts per trillion (ppt) PFOS contamination in 2013, demonstrating long-standing contamination from firefighting foam usage.
- Miami-Dade Water Systems: Voluntary testing revealed up to 36 ppt PFOS and 11 ppt PFOA in drinking water supplies – levels that exceed new EPA health guidelines of 4 ppt.
- Atmospheric Contamination: Recent research detected 21 different PFAS compounds in Miami’s rainwater, indicating widespread environmental contamination affecting all water sources.
Chemical Contamination Concerns
- Chromium-6 Crisis: Miami-Dade water shows chromium-6 levels ranging from 38-170 parts per trillion, which is 2-8.5 times above California’s health guideline of 20 ppt for this known carcinogen.
- Disinfection Byproducts: Chloramine treatment creates trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, with levels that approach EPA limits and pose long-term cancer risks.
- Biscayne Bay Impact: PFAS contamination has spread to Biscayne Bay’s marine ecosystem, affecting fish, dolphins, and manatees that residents consume and interact with.
Infrastructure Modernization Efforts
- Record Investment: WASD completed a record-breaking $622 million in infrastructure upgrades in fiscal year 2023-24, part of an $8.79 billion multi-year Capital Improvement Program.
- Treatment Limitations: Current water treatment plants (Hialeah, Preston, and Alexander Orr) use conventional treatment methods that are not designed to remove PFAS or chromium-6 contamination.
- Future Planning: Advanced treatment technologies including specialized filtration for emerging contaminants are being evaluated but not yet implemented system-wide.
Climate Resilience & Contamination Challenges
Miami faces a dual challenge: traditional infrastructure resilience and emerging chemical contamination. The city’s “Ocean Outfall Legislation Compliance Plan” addresses regulatory requirements while the shallow Biscayne Aquifer remains vulnerable to both saltwater intrusion and surface contamination. PFAS chemicals, being “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in both human tissue and marine ecosystems. The widespread detection of PFAS in rainwater indicates atmospheric transport is spreading contamination beyond original sources. Miami’s water planning must now address not only sea level rise projections but also the long-term presence of persistent chemical contaminants that current treatment infrastructure cannot effectively remove.
Critical Recommendations for Miami Residents
Request PFAS Testing
Contact Miami-Dade WASD at 311 or (305) 468-5900 to request water testing specifically for PFAS and chromium-6. Standard testing may not include these emerging contaminants, so specifically request comprehensive testing for “forever chemicals.”
Install PFAS-Certified Filtration
Given detected PFAS and chromium-6 contamination, install NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certified filters specifically rated for PFOA/PFOS and chromium-6 removal. Standard carbon filters are insufficient for these contaminants.
Monitor Health Guidelines
Stay informed about EPA’s evolving PFAS regulations and health advisories. Consider limiting tap water consumption for pregnant women, infants, and young children who are most vulnerable to these contaminants.
Advocate for Treatment Upgrades
Contact Miami-Dade commissioners and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to demand advanced treatment technologies for PFAS removal. Current infrastructure investments focus on traditional upgrades but don’t address emerging contaminants.
Report Contamination Concerns
Report unusual taste, odor, or color in tap water immediately through the Miami 311 app or by calling 311. Document concerns with photos and request follow-up testing, especially in areas near airports or industrial facilities.
Quality News About Your Water
Get the comprehensive water quality news coverage you need with our dedicated US Water News Service. From coast to coast, we deliver in-depth reporting and expert analysis on PFAS contamination, EPA regulatory changes, infrastructure developments, and emerging water safety issues affecting communities nationwide. While mainstream media only covers the biggest stories, we provide the detailed, ongoing coverage that helps you understand the full scope of America’s water challenges. Whether you’re a concerned citizen, water professional, or community leader, our daily updates and analytical insights keep you informed about the issues that matter most to public health and environmental safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miami’s tap water safe to drink given PFAS contamination?
Miami’s water technically meets federal standards, but this doesn’t address serious contamination concerns. Miami International Airport recorded 47 ppt PFOS in 2013, and Miami-Dade water systems show up to 36 ppt PFOS and 11 ppt PFOA – levels exceeding new EPA guidelines of 4 ppt.
Additionally, chromium-6 levels range from 38-170 ppt (2-8.5 times above safe levels), and 21 different PFAS compounds have been detected in Miami’s rainwater. While the water meets current federal regulations for traditional contaminants, these emerging contaminants pose long-term health risks.
We recommend high-quality filtration systems certified for PFAS and chromium-6 removal, especially for vulnerable populations including pregnant women, infants, and young children. Request specific PFAS testing from WASD by calling 311.
What is Miami doing about PFAS and chromium-6 contamination?
Currently, Miami-Dade’s conventional treatment plants are not equipped to remove PFAS or chromium-6. The $8.79 billion Capital Improvement Program focuses on traditional infrastructure upgrades but has not yet implemented advanced treatment technologies for emerging contaminants.
• Monitoring: Voluntary PFAS testing conducted, but not comprehensive or ongoing
• Research Phase: Advanced treatment technologies being evaluated but not deployed
• Regulatory Response: Waiting for federal enforcement of new EPA PFAS standards
• Infrastructure Focus: Current investments prioritize conventional upgrades over contamination treatment
Residents should advocate for immediate implementation of PFAS treatment technologies and comprehensive contamination monitoring throughout the system.
How widespread is contamination in Miami’s water system?
Contamination appears widespread across Miami-Dade’s water system:
• Source Water: Biscayne Aquifer contamination from multiple sources including airports, military bases, and industrial activities
• Atmospheric Transport: PFAS detected in rainwater indicating ongoing environmental contamination
• Marine Ecosystem: PFAS contamination confirmed in Biscayne Bay affecting fish, dolphins, and manatees
• Treatment Plants: All major facilities (Hialeah, Preston, Alexander Orr) lack PFAS removal capabilities
• Distribution System: Chromium-6 detected throughout Miami-Dade water supplies
The contamination affects both the source aquifer and the broader environmental system, making comprehensive treatment and long-term monitoring essential for public health protection.
What health risks do Miami residents face from water contamination?
Miami residents face serious long-term health risks from documented water contamination:
• PFAS Exposure: Linked to cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, and developmental effects in children
• Chromium-6: Known carcinogen with levels 2-8.5 times above safe thresholds throughout Miami-Dade water
• Disinfection Byproducts: Trihalomethanes associated with bladder cancer and reproductive issues
• Cumulative Effects: Long-term exposure to multiple contaminants may compound health risks
• Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women, infants, and children face highest risks from contamination
Residents should implement appropriate filtration, limit exposure for vulnerable family members, and advocate for comprehensive water treatment upgrades to address these documented contamination issues.
Major Contaminants of Concern
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Firefighting foam from Miami International Airport, industrial activities, and atmospheric transport from regional sources
Health Effects: Cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, developmental effects in children, and reproductive impacts
Current Levels: Miami International Airport: 47 ppt PFOS; Miami-Dade systems: up to 36 ppt PFOS, 11 ppt PFOA (both exceed EPA guidelines of 4 ppt)
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent Chromium)
Source: Industrial pollution and natural occurrence in groundwater; widespread throughout Miami-Dade water systems
Health Effects: Known carcinogen linked to cancer, particularly lung and stomach cancers; no EPA regulation currently exists
Current Levels: Miami-Dade water ranges 38-170 ppt (2-8.5 times above California’s health guideline of 20 ppt)
Please read – our information
The information presented on cleanairandwater.net is compiled from official water quality reports, trusted news sources, government websites, and public health resources. While we strive for accuracy and thoroughness in our presentations, we are not scientists, engineers, or qualified water quality professionals.
Our mission is to present water quality information in an accessible, real-world format that helps people understand what’s in their water and make informed decisions about their health and safety. We believe that complex environmental information should be available to everyone in a format that’s easy to understand.
We make every effort to ensure our content is current and accurate, but we cannot guarantee that all information is complete or error-free. This website should not replace official communications from your local water utility or health department. We always recommend consulting official sources for the most up-to-date information regarding your specific water system.
Clean Air and Water is not liable for any unintentional errors, omissions, or outdated information. The content on this site is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
