City wells versus private wells
The City's own production wells are about 100 feet deep in the Biscayne Aquifer, and the City monitors their chloride because seawater can migrate into freshwater aquifers over time; it reports source chloride consistently below 50 ppm. A private well on your property is a separate source that nobody monitors for you. Its depth, location and use decide what it carries.
Drinking or irrigation
| Drinking well | Irrigation well | |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies | The house | Sprinklers only |
| Usual issues | Odor, iron, hardness, salt taste | Orange stains, sulfur smell outdoors |
| Lab testing | Bacteria and nitrate yearly, per FDOH | Iron, chloride as needed |
| Treatment | Whole-home well system | Iron treatment on the line |
Permits and rules in Broward
- All wells 12 inches in diameter or smaller in Broward County, including irrigation wells, need a permit from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County before construction, repair, modification or abandonment.
- Only licensed water well contractors may build or abandon wells.
- South Florida Water Management District irrigation rules apply to private wells too, including no landscape irrigation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Testing advice
The Florida Department of Health recommends testing a drinking well for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year, and for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead when a home is bought or sold. Near the coast, chloride or conductivity is worth adding so you know whether salt is a factor. Jorge's visit adds hardness, iron, sulfur odor, pH and dissolved solids for equipment decisions.
Protecting the City supply
The City's report explains that cross-connections, such as irrigation systems or hoses connected to the drinking water line, can let contaminants backflow into public mains, and that backflow preventers guard against this. If your property has both City water and a well, keep them separate and ask a licensed plumber about backflow protection.
Treatment and next step
A well system might combine sediment filtration, iron and sulfur treatment, softening and a drinking-water stage, designed in that order from the test. See the well water system page and UV vs. RO for well water. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
If salt turns out to be part of the picture, that changes the design significantly, which is exactly why the test comes first.
https://www.cohb.org/DocumentCenter/View/37801/2025-CCR---Hallandale-Beach-2025-Water-Quality-Report
https://broward.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-public-health/water-well-construction/
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
https://www.sfwmd.gov/community-residents/landscape-irrigation
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist