"Does a filter remove that?" depends entirely on what "that" is. PFAS, chlorine, and lead behave completely differently in water, come from different sources, and call for different filtration approaches.

United Plumbing has installed water treatment systems across Fort Myers and Southwest Florida since 1980. This guide breaks down what each of these three contaminants actually is, and what kind of filtration is designed to address it.

What's Actually In Fort Myers Water

Water quality in Fort Myers depends on whether a home is on municipal supply or a private well. Municipal water is treated before it reaches your tap, which is where chlorine or chloramine typically comes from. Private wells draw untreated groundwater, which can carry naturally occurring minerals, iron, or sulfur depending on the area. PFAS and lead are not tied to one source type; PFAS can enter water supplies from various industrial or environmental sources, while lead most often comes from the plumbing between the source and your faucet.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

PFAS are a large group of manufactured chemicals used for decades in products resistant to heat, oil, and water. They are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly in the environment. The U.S. EPA regulates certain PFAS compounds in drinking water and has published health advisories on the topic; homeowners concerned about PFAS should review guidance directly from the EPA's PFAS resources.

PFAS are not something you can see, taste, or smell. The only way to know whether they are present in your water is through laboratory testing.

Chlorine and Chloramine

Public water utilities add chlorine or chloramine to disinfect water and control bacteria as it travels through the distribution system. It is doing its job by the time it reaches your tap, but many homeowners notice the taste or smell and want it reduced for drinking and cooking water.

Unlike PFAS or lead, chlorine taste and odor is usually the most straightforward of the three to address, and it is often the first thing a whole-house or under-sink carbon filter is chosen to handle.

Lead

Lead in tap water almost never comes from the water source itself. It typically comes from lead service lines, lead solder used in older plumbing, or brass fixtures that contain trace amounts of lead, all of which can be more common in older homes. Florida homes built before lead solder was phased out of plumbing use are the ones most worth checking.

The U.S. EPA and CDC both publish guidance on lead in drinking water and how to have a home's plumbing evaluated; see the EPA's lead in drinking water guidance for more detail.

A filter that removes chlorine taste was never designed to remove PFAS or lead. Matching the equipment to what is actually in your water is the whole job.

What Filtration Actually Removes

Different treatment technologies target different contaminants. This is a general guide, not a guarantee for any specific product; always check a filter's certification against the exact contaminant you are trying to address.

Look for equipment certified to NSF/ANSI standards for the specific contaminant you are addressing. A filter certified for chlorine taste and odor is not automatically certified for PFAS or lead reduction.

Why Testing Comes Before Buying Equipment

None of these three contaminants can be reliably identified by taste, smell, or appearance alone. Chlorine is the exception you can usually smell, but PFAS and lead give no warning signs at all. Laboratory water testing is what actually tells you whether PFAS or lead are present and at what level, which is the only reliable basis for choosing equipment.

Our guide to reading your water test results walks through what a lab report actually tells you once you have one in hand.

Sources and Further Reading

• U.S. EPA, PFAS in drinking water: epa.gov/pfas
• U.S. EPA, lead in drinking water: epa.gov
• Florida Department of Health, drinking water quality guidance: floridahealth.gov
• More guides from United: Fort Myers plumbing articles.

About the author: United Plumbing Inc has been the Fort Myers plumber for residential, commercial and new construction customers since 1980. Licensed technicians install and service water treatment systems across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs and the barrier islands. Florida License CFC 1433130. Head office: 3560 Teeside Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Reviewed by United Plumbing's service management team. Last updated September 2026.