Well Water Treatment in Miami

Two kinds of wells in the Miami area

Drinking-water wells. These supply the house itself. They are uncommon inside city limits but show up on some properties in the wider Miami-Dade area. The Florida Department of Health is clear that private well owners are responsible for their own water quality, because no utility tests it.

Irrigation wells. These water the lawn and landscaping and never connect to the kitchen tap. Miami-Dade's year-round outdoor watering rules apply to private wells as well as utility water, so an irrigation well still follows the two-day schedule.

What Biscayne Aquifer well water tends to carry

Most private wells in the area tap the same shallow Biscayne Aquifer that WASD uses. WASD describes it as porous limestone close to the surface that refills with rain. The utility softens and disinfects that water at its plants. A private well gets none of that, so well owners commonly deal with:

• Hardness from the limestone, which leaves scale.
• Iron, which stains fixtures, walls and pavers orange.
• Hydrogen sulfide, the rotten-egg smell.
• Bacteria and nitrate, which the DOH recommends testing for every year.

Every well is different, which is why nothing gets sized from a guess.

Florida DOH testing advice for well owners

• Test for coliform bacteria and nitrate at least once a year, and more often if the taste, odor or color changes.
• Test for lead about every three years.
• Use your county health department or a state-certified laboratory. The DOH's Bureau of Public Health Laboratories runs a Miami laboratory that tests private well samples for coliforms and E. coli.

Jorge's in-home test covers the things that drive equipment choices, such as hardness, iron and odor. For bacteria or a documented result, a certified lab is the right tool; see home screening vs. lab analysis.

How a well system is put together

A well system is a sequence of stages, each aimed at something the test found. Depending on the results, that might include iron and sulfur treatment, softening for hardness, and filtration. An under-sink reverse osmosis unit can be added for drinking water. Disinfection steps such as UV are a separate decision; see UV vs. reverse osmosis for well water.

Living Water's well water systems are configured from each well's test, not sold as one box for everyone.

Irrigation wells: treat or adjust?

For an irrigation well, the usual goal is to stop iron staining on the house, pool deck and walkways. Options range from iron treatment on the irrigation line to simply re-aiming heads that spray hard surfaces. Jorge will tell you which makes sense for your yard. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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