Village wells vs. a private well
| Village of Tequesta water | Private well | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | 10 surficial aquifer wells and 4 upper Floridan wells nearly 1,800 ft deep | Usually shallow groundwater |
| Treatment | Oxidation, direct filtration, RO for deep wells, chloramination | None unless added |
| Monitoring | 10-15 samples a day, per the Village report | Owner's responsibility |
Irrigation wells
Irrigation wells are the most common private wells around Tequesta. They are not for drinking, but iron and sulfur in that water stain walls, pavers and docks and can smell near sprinklers. The Village's year-round three-day-a-week watering schedule applies to landscape irrigation; check its Water Conservation page for the current rules for your address. See orange stains.
Iron treatment on an irrigation line is a different job from treating drinking water: it focuses on preventing stains and protecting sprinkler heads, not on making water drinkable. Keep the two separate when you compare quotes.
Drinking wells: Florida DOH guidance
- Test for bacteria and nitrate regularly, and after flooding or well repairs.
- Retest when taste, color or odor changes.
- Use a certified laboratory.
The Florida DOH in Palm Beach County runs an Environmental Laboratory in West Palm Beach that tests drinking water for total coliform and E. coli and publishes potable well sampling instructions in English, Spanish and Creole.
Keep copies of every lab result so you can see changes over time.
PFAS and wells
The Village has published PFAS results for its own finished water. A private well is not covered by those results. If PFAS are a concern, only a certified lab using EPA methods can tell you what your well contains.
Building a well system
- Sediment filtration.
- Iron and hydrogen sulfide reduction.
- Ion-exchange softening if hardness is high.
- Under-sink RO for drinking water.
- Disinfection equipment if a lab test shows a bacteria concern; compare UV vs. RO.
See Living Water's well water system.
Sizing depends on the pump's flow rate and the home's peak demand, since many treatment tanks need enough flow to backwash. A system sized without those numbers can under-treat or waste water.
What Jorge checks
Iron, hardness, pH, TDS, odor on hot and cold, pump pressure and whether the well serves the house, the yard or both. He recommends a lab test first when bacteria or specific contaminants are a question. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.tequesta.org/DocumentCenter/View/13888/VOT-Water-Report-2025
https://www.tequesta.org/1243/Water-Conservation
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/
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist