Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

PFAS Detected in Dade County School District (FL)

81 ZIP codes · 19 water systems · 3,084,006 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Dade County School District: 47 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

C · 65
Avg Safety Score (79 ZIP)
81
ZIP Codes
19
Water Systems
1266
Violations (5yr) (79 ZIP)
0.0035 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
79
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 2
Radon Risk (81 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Dade County School District in Florida spans 81 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 79 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 79 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 3,084,006 across 8 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 79 scored ZIP records is C (65/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 59/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 80% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0035 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0103 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 79 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 79 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives. One or more PFAS compounds exceed EPA maximum contaminant levels.

Detected compounds: 6:2 FTS, PFOS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS, 8:2 FTS, PFNA.

Highest measured level: 0.19 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

1266 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 462 No 79
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 339 No 79
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 335 No 79
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 43 No 29
Lead Inorganic 38 No 18
Total Coliform Microbiological 36 No 7
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 13 No 12

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate risk)

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
33054 Opa Locka C (60) 69 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33014 Hialeah C (61) 53 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33167 Miami C (62) 51 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33168 Miami C (62) 51 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33012 Hialeah C (62) 45 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33147 Miami C (62) 40 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33030 Homestead C (59) 34 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33160 North Miami Beach C (63) 30 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33161 Miami C (63) 30 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33162 Miami C (63) 30 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33181 Miami C (63) 30 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33144 Miami C (62) 29 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33155 Miami C (62) 29 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33016 Hialeah C (61) 28 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33018 Hialeah C (61) 28 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33034 Homestead C (63) 28 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33170 Miami C (62) 27 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33187 Miami C (62) 27 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33010 Hialeah C (63) 24 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33013 Hialeah C (63) 24 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33142 Miami C (63) 24 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33154 Miami Beach C (60) 24 0 0.0034 mg/L No
33035 Homestead C (64) 22 0 0.0025 mg/L No
33138 Miami C (65) 22 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33150 Miami C (65) 22 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33031 Homestead C (64) 20 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33033 Homestead C (64) 20 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33109 Miami Beach C (66) 20 0 0.007 mg/L No
33139 Miami Beach C (66) 20 0 0.007 mg/L No
33141 Miami Beach C (65) 16 0 0.007 mg/L No
33056 Miami Gardens C (65) 14 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33140 Miami Beach C (67) 14 0 0.007 mg/L No
33169 Miami C (65) 14 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33179 Miami C (65) 14 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33180 Miami C (65) 14 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33166 Miami C (61) 12 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33122 Miami C (64) 9 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33126 Miami C (64) 9 0 0.0103 mg/L No
33178 Miami C (64) 9 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33015 Hialeah C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33032 Homestead C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33055 Opa Locka C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33101 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33125 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0103 mg/L No
33127 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33128 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33129 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33130 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33131 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33132 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33133 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33134 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33135 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33136 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33137 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33143 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33145 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33146 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33149 Key Biscayne C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33156 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33157 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33158 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33165 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33172 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33173 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33174 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33175 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33176 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33177 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33182 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33183 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33184 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33185 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33186 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33189 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33190 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33193 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33194 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33196 Miami C (66) 6 0 0.0031 mg/L No
33039 Homestead N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
34141 Ochopee N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Dade County School District schools?

EPA system-level records show no health-based violations across 79 ZIP records with known health counts in the past 5 years. No lead action-level exceedance is recorded among 79 ZIP records with known status. This does not establish safety at an individual school tap; request current building-level testing results.

Does Dade County School District test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in Dade County School District water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 79 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Florida → Dade County School District

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). PFAS Detected in Dade County School District (FL). https://zipcheckup.com/schools/dade-county-school-district-fl/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{PFAS Detected in Dade County School District (FL)}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/dade-county-school-district-fl/}
}
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