Are there private wells in Cutler Bay?

Yes, mostly irrigation wells. Most homes drink WASD water, and a smaller number use private drinking wells.

How often should I test a drinking well?

The Florida Department of Health advises testing every year at a certified lab.

Can Jorge test for bacteria?

No. Bacteria and nitrate need a certified lab. Jorge tests what you need to choose equipment.

What if my well flooded?

Follow DOH guidance for flooded wells: disinfect and lab-test before drinking.

Do I need treatment on an irrigation well?

Only if you want to prevent stains or odor. It is optional.

Well Water Treatment in Cutler Bay

Irrigation well or drinking well?

	Irrigation well	Drinking water well
Supplies	Sprinklers only	The whole house
Common complaint	Orange stains, sulfur smell outdoors	Odor, iron, hardness, taste
Testing	Iron and pH for treatment design	Certified lab for bacteria and nitrate yearly, plus a treatment test
Treatment	Iron treatment on the irrigation line	Whole-home well system from the test

How common wells and septic are in Cutler Bay

Cutler Bay is mostly connected to county water and sewer. A 2018 Miami-Dade study of septic systems counted 228 residential parcels on septic in the Town, far fewer than in Palmetto Bay or Pinecrest just to the north. Fewer septic tanks generally means fewer homes off the county system altogether. Your water bill is the quickest check: if you receive a Miami-Dade Water and Sewer bill, your house is on county water and any well on the lot is likely for irrigation.

What Florida says about private wells

The Florida Department of Health says private well owners are responsible for making sure their own well water is safe to drink, and it advises testing every year. It notes that bacteria and nitrate can reach groundwater through poorly maintained septic systems, fertilizer use or poorly built wells. Those tests go to a certified lab; DOH lists approved laboratories. Jorge's in-home assessment adds the numbers you need to choose equipment: hardness, iron, odor, pH and dissolved solids.

Coastal flooding and your well

Cutler Bay borders Biscayne Bay and is drained by canals the South Florida Water Management District maintains. After a flood or storm surge reaches a wellhead, DOH guidance on flooded wells applies: disinfect and lab-test before drinking. A well that has flooded should be retested even if it looks and smells normal.

How a Cutler Bay well system is put together

There is no single package. Depending on the test, a system might combine sediment filtration, iron and sulfur treatment, softening and an under-sink RO for drinking water. Questions about bacteria are a separate decision; read UV vs. reverse osmosis for well water. See also the well water system page.

Next step

Miami-Dade's irrigation schedule applies to wells too: odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday, never 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a free well assessment, call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.

Sources:
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/environment/documents/vulnerability-septic-systems-sea-level-rise.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/conservation/outdoor-water-restrictions.page
https://www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/publicworks/page/public-works-faq

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist