Where Miami Beach water really comes from
The city's 2024 Water Quality Report explains that Miami Beach drinking water comes primarily from the Biscayne Aquifer, filtered through sand and rock on the mainland, and is treated by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) before the city distributes it. WASD says its Biscayne wells average about 80 feet deep. So even though Miami Beach is surrounded by about 60 miles of waterways, the drinking supply is groundwater pumped and treated on the mainland.
Irrigation wells
Some properties use a separate well to water landscaping. The usual complaints are orange iron stains and sulfur smells from sprinklers. Irrigation must follow Miami Beach's year-round rules adopted under Ordinance 2024-4622: no watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and alternate days by even or odd address. An irrigation well is not a drinking supply, and its water should not be used for household drinking or cooking.
If a property uses a private drinking well
The Florida Department of Health recommends:
- Testing for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year
- Testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead when buying or selling a home with a well
- Testing for lead about every three years for most homeowners
- Contacting the county health department for sampling instructions
DOH notes that land use nearby may call for additional tests.
How treatment is configured
Living Water's well water treatment is built from the well's own test: oxidation and filtration for iron and sulfur, softening for hardness, and drinking-water stages where needed. Any equipment intended to address bacteria or a specific contaminant should be certified for that use; check the exact model's listing. See UV vs. RO for well water.
Not sure what you have?
If you receive a water bill from the City of Miami Beach, your household water is city water. If a sprinkler system draws from its own pump with no meter, it is likely a well. Jorge can screen either during a free visit and tell you when a certified lab test is the right next step. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974, and read city water vs. well water treatment.
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Water-Quality-Brochure-2025-final.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/water-supply-and-treatment.page
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/public-works/water-conservation/
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist