Same aquifer, none of the treatment
WASD's report describes the Biscayne Aquifer as a shallow, porous limestone formation where fresh water is stored, and says its Hialeah and Preston plants draw solely from it. At the plant, that water is softened, filtered, air-stripped and disinfected. A private well taps the same groundwater but delivers it raw. Hardness, iron and hydrogen sulfide go straight to your sprinklers or taps unless you treat them.
Florida DOH testing for drinking wells
- The state does not require routine sampling of private home wells; testing is up to the owner.
- The Florida Department of Health recommends testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates every year.
- Most homeowners should also test for lead every three years.
- Use a certified laboratory for those tests.
Jorge's free screening adds treatment parameters: iron, hardness, pH, sulfur and dissolved solids.
Matching treatment to the test
| Finding | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Iron staining | Iron filtration, or metered treatment on an irrigation line |
| Rotten-egg odor | Aeration or oxidation, then filtration |
| Hardness | Ion-exchange softening |
| Bacteria in a drinking well | Find and fix the cause, then disinfection such as UV |
| Broad dissolved solids for drinking | Reverse osmosis at the kitchen |
Living Water configures well water systems from each well's test. Compare UV vs. RO for well water.
Watering rules cover wells
Miami-Dade County applies its year-round irrigation restrictions to every source, including private wells, lakes and canals. Lawns can be watered two days a week: odd-numbered addresses on Wednesday and Saturday, even-numbered on Thursday and Sunday, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Sticking to the schedule also limits how much iron-laden water hits your walls.
If you are installing treatment on an irrigation line, plan it around the watering windows and the pump's flow rate. An iron filter that is too small for the pump will pass iron when the sprinklers run at full flow, and a metered additive needs to be set for the actual gallons the system delivers in a cycle.
Businesses and properties with wells
A well that serves several rental units or a business may fall under different rules than a single-family private well. If that is your situation, check with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade before relying on the well for drinking water. For irrigation-only use, the focus is usually stains and odor.
Book
Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Jorge can test the well and your city tap in one visit so you know which problem belongs to which source.
https://www.miamidade.gov/water/library/reports/water-quality-2024.pdf
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/conservation/outdoor-water-restrictions.page
https://www.opalockafl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5199/2024-Water-Quality-Report
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist