City water vs. a well
| City water (from West Palm Beach) | Private well | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Grassy Waters Preserve, Lake Mangonia, Clear Lake | Groundwater beneath the property |
| Treatment | Lime softening, filtration, UV, chloramine | None unless added |
| Testing | More than 2,500 tests a month, per the city | Up to the owner |
Irrigation wells on the island
Landscaping is a large part of Palm Beach properties, and some owners irrigate from a well. The usual issues are iron staining on walls and stone, sulfur odor near sprinklers, and sediment in heads. On a barrier island, groundwater can also be affected by nearby salt water; a test shows whether that is an issue for your plants and equipment. See iron stains in Palm Beach.
Before buying iron filtration for an irrigation well, it is worth confirming how much of the property it actually feeds and how often it runs. A filter must be sized to the pump's flow, and a system that runs several zones at once needs more capacity than one that cycles zone by zone. Jorge measures flow during the visit so the equipment is not undersized or oversized.
If a well serves the house
A drinking well on the island would be unusual, but if your property has one, Florida DOH guidance applies:
- Test for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year.
- Retest after flooding, repairs or changes in taste, color or odor.
- Use a certified lab.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County Environmental Laboratory tests for total coliform and E. coli; call 561-840-4500.
After storms
Storm surge and flooding can reach well heads on low-lying properties. Retest a well after any flooding before relying on it, and inspect irrigation equipment for salt exposure.
Building a well system
- Sediment filtration.
- Iron and hydrogen sulfide reduction.
- Softening if hardness is high.
- For drinking wells, RO at the tap and disinfection if a lab test shows a bacteria concern.
See well water systems and city vs. well water treatment.
What Jorge checks
- Iron, hardness, pH and dissolved solids.
- Odor.
- Pump flow and pressure.
- Whether the well feeds irrigation, a pool, a fountain, or the house.
Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974 for a free on-site test.
https://www.wpb.org/files/assets/city/v/2/public-utilities/documents/water-quality-reports/2025westpalmbeach-webreport.pdf
https://www.wpb.org/Departments/Public-Utilities/Protecting-Water-Quality-Source-to-Tap
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/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist