Outside: irrigation wells
Many South Florida yards irrigate from a shallow well or a lake pump instead of drinking water. Groundwater often carries dissolved iron. When it sprays onto stucco or concrete and meets air, the iron oxidizes and leaves orange streaks that build up with every watering cycle.
Some Miramar properties irrigate with the city's reclaimed water instead; the city's program serves irrigation customers from its Wastewater Reclamation Facility. If your sprinklers are on reclaimed water or a well, that is the water to test, not the kitchen tap.
What the city's report shows
Miramar's 2024 report lists iron with a highest result of 0.326 parts per million and a range of 0.047 to 0.326, against a secondary guideline of 0.3. EPA describes secondary standards as guidelines for aesthetic effects like color, staining and taste, not health limits. Iron can also come from older pipes inside a home. If you see orange in a toilet tank or a white sink, a test at the tap tells you whether it is coming in with the water or from your plumbing.
Private wells
Homes that have used private drinking wells, such as in parts of Country Club Ranches, can see iron in toilets, showers and laundry. Iron often travels with hydrogen sulfide and hardness, so a well system is designed from a full test. See well water treatment in Miramar.
Treatment options by source
| Source | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Irrigation well | Iron treatment on the irrigation line, or adjusting sprinkler heads away from walls |
| Private drinking well | Oxidation and filtration, sometimes with softening, chosen from the test |
| City water at the tap | Confirm with a test; check the water heater and household pipes |
A softener alone is not an iron solution for heavy well iron. Learn more in city vs. well water treatment.
Cleaning existing stains
Treatment stops new stains; it does not erase old ones. Iron stains on stucco, pavers and pool tile usually need a cleaner made for rust, used according to the label and tested on a small area first. Fix the source before cleaning, or the orange returns with the next sprinkler cycle.
Get it tested
Jorge tests iron, pH and hardness at the source you point to: the kitchen tap, the sprinkler line or the well. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miramarfl.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/utilities/documents/water-report-2025.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/secondary-drinking-water-standards-guidance-nuisance-chemicals
https://www.miramarfl.gov/Departments/Utilities/Country-Club-Ranches-Infrastructure-Project
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist