Drinking well or irrigation well?
| Drinking well | Irrigation well | |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies | Indoor taps, showers | Sprinklers only |
| Common complaints | Odor, iron, hardness, taste | Orange stains, sulfur smell outdoors |
| Lab testing | Bacteria and nitrate yearly, per FDOH | Usually iron and pH |
| Treatment | Whole-home well system | Iron treatment on the irrigation line |
No WASD water bill but running water inside? You are likely on a private drinking well.
Wells and septic in the same yard
South Miami's Septic-to-Sewer page says large portions of the city still rely on septic systems, with conversion construction funded only in Area K for now. The Florida Department of Health notes that bacteria and nitrate can reach wells through poorly maintained septic systems, fertilizer or poorly built wells. If your property has both a well and a septic tank, regular lab testing is especially worth doing.
What Florida recommends
- Private well owners are responsible for making sure their own well water is safe to drink.
- Test for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year.
- Test for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead when a home is bought or sold, and lead every three years for most homeowners.
Those tests go to a certified lab. Jorge's in-home assessment adds the numbers needed to choose equipment: hardness, iron, odor, pH and dissolved solids.
How a well system is put together
A well water system is configured from the test: it may combine sediment filtration, iron and sulfur treatment, softening and a polishing stage. Compare key choices in UV vs. reverse osmosis for well water and city vs. well water treatment.
Order matters: sediment first, then iron and sulfur, then softening, then any drinking water stage, so each step protects the next.
Signs your well needs attention
- A change in taste, color or smell.
- New orange or black staining in fixtures.
- Sand or sediment in aerators.
- Flooding near the wellhead after heavy rain.
Any of these is a reason to lab-test for bacteria and nitrate and have the equipment looked at, not just the water.
Watering rules apply to wells too
Miami-Dade's year-round restrictions cover private wells: odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday, before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974 to test your well.
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
https://www.southmiamifl.gov/806/Septic-to-Sewer-Information
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/conservation/outdoor-water-restrictions.page
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist