Seacoast's wells vs. a private well
| Seacoast city water | Private well | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Surficial aquifer (75-200 ft) and brackish Floridan aquifer (about 1,500 ft) | Usually shallow groundwater under the property |
| Treatment | Nanofiltration, low-pressure RO, chloramine disinfection | None unless the owner adds it |
| Testing | Utility monitoring, published yearly | Owner's responsibility |
Irrigation wells
Irrigation wells are the most common private wells around Lake Park. They are not for drinking, but iron and sulfur in that water stain walls, sidewalks and pool decks and can smell near sprinklers. See orange stains and rotten-egg smell.
Drinking wells: Florida DOH guidance
- Test for bacteria and nitrate regularly, and after flooding or well repairs.
- Test whenever taste, color or odor changes.
- Use a certified laboratory.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County runs an Environmental Laboratory in West Palm Beach that tests drinking water for total coliform and E. coli and publishes sampling instructions for potable wells in English, Spanish and Creole.
Building a well system
- Sediment filtration.
- Iron and hydrogen sulfide reduction.
- An ion-exchange softener if hardness is high.
- Under-sink RO for drinking water.
- Disinfection equipment if a lab test shows a bacteria concern; compare UV vs. RO.
See Living Water's well water system and well system cost drivers.
Before you buy well equipment
- Get a bacteria test from a certified lab if anyone drinks the water.
- Get iron, hardness, pH and hydrogen sulfide numbers so the system is sized correctly.
- Check the pump's flow rate; treatment equipment needs enough flow to backwash.
- Decide whether the house, the yard, or both will be treated.
A well system that is sized without these numbers often under-treats or wastes water. Living Water configures its well systems from the well's test for exactly that reason.
If you are near the lagoon
Shallow groundwater near tidal water can vary in mineral content. Only a test of your own well can say what you have. Retest after major storms or flooding, as the Department of Health recommends.
What Jorge checks
Iron, hardness, pH, TDS and odor on hot and cold, plus pump pressure and whether the well serves the house, the yard or both. He recommends a certified lab test first when bacteria or specific contaminants are a question. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.sua.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SUACCR2025.pdf
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
https://palmbeach.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/water-lab/
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist