Well Water Treatment in Hollywood

Two kinds of wells in Hollywood

• Irrigation wells. Shallow wells that feed sprinklers. Nobody drinks from them, but iron and sulfur in that water stain walls and pavers and can smell. See rust stains.
• Private drinking wells. Less common inside city limits, where most homes connect to city water. If yours supplies the house, you are responsible for its testing and treatment.

The city itself pumps from wells in the Biscayne and Floridan Aquifers, but its water is treated at the plant. A private well skips all of that.

Septic and wells

The City of Hollywood says roughly 44% of the city is unsewered, with properties on private septic systems, and it is phasing in septic-to-sewer connections in some neighborhoods. If you have both a well and a septic system, the distance between them and regular bacteria testing matter. That is one more reason to follow the Florida Department of Health's annual testing advice.

Irrigation wells and city water

An irrigation well and the city supply should stay separate. Cross-connections between a private well and city plumbing are a backflow concern, and the City of Hollywood runs a backflow education program for exactly this reason. If you are adding treatment to a well, make sure the installer keeps the systems isolated and follows local code.

What to test

• Bacteria and nitrate, through a certified lab, at least yearly for drinking wells (Florida DOH guidance).
• Iron and manganese for staining.
• Hydrogen sulfide for odor.
• Hardness, pH and total dissolved solids to size equipment.

Jorge's in-home screening covers the treatment-related items; the DOH page lists certified lab options for bacteria and nitrate.

How a well system is put together

A typical well system is a sequence, and each stage depends on the test:

1. Sediment filtration.
2. Iron and sulfur removal (oxidation, aeration or specialized media).
3. Softening if hardness is high.
4. Carbon for taste and odor.
5. Disinfection such as UV where bacteria are a concern; see UV vs. reverse osmosis for well water.
6. Optional under-sink RO for drinking water.

See well water systems.

Getting started

Jorge tests the well free at your property and explains what each number means. If treatment fits, you get an itemized quote; well systems vary a lot, so there is no one-size price. See well water treatment costs in Florida.

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