City wells vs. your well
| USD water | Private well | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | 27 East Coast Surficial Aquifer wells | Groundwater beneath your property |
| Treatment | Air stripping, lime softening, chloramine, filtration | None unless you add it |
| Testing | Regulated monitoring, annual report | Up to the owner |
The USD's own wells sit in a protected wellfield, and the state assesses the potential sources of contamination around them; its 2025 assessment found 24 with low to moderate susceptibility. A private well has no such review unless the owner arranges testing.
Irrigation wells
An irrigation well shapes how a property looks: iron stains on walls and pavers, sulfur smell near sprinklers, and sediment in heads. Treatment goes on the irrigation line, sized to the pump. See orange stains in Riviera Beach.
Lawn and landscape irrigation is one of the biggest uses of water in any South Florida yard, which is why some owners keep or drill a well for it rather than paying for city water on the lawn. That trade-off is fine, but it brings iron and sulfur into play. Before adding equipment, Jorge tests the irrigation water so the filter is sized for the actual iron level and the pump's flow. An undersized iron filter clogs quickly and ends up bypassed.
Drinking wells: Florida DOH guidance
- Test for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year.
- Retest after flooding, repairs or a change in taste, color or odor.
- Use a certified lab.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County Environmental Laboratory tests drinking water for total coliform and E. coli; call 561-840-4500.
After storms and flooding
Coastal and low-lying properties can see flooding in heavy storms. Florida DOH advises retesting a drinking well after flooding. If your well head was underwater, do not assume the water is unchanged.
Building a well system
- Sediment filtration.
- Iron and hydrogen sulfide reduction.
- Softener if hardness is high.
- Under-sink RO for drinking.
- 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, dissolved solids.
- Odor at hot and cold taps.
- Pump flow and pressure.
- Whether the well serves the house, the yard, or both.
Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974 for a free on-site test.
https://www.rivierabch.com/filestorage/24577/24726/24735/31500/51398/Final_Draft-__Annual_Water_Quality_Report_2025_%282%29_%282%29.pdf
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