Last checked: October 22, 2026

Private wells in Florida

About 12% of Floridians rely on private wells or small water systems. Florida doesn't require well sampling when a home is sold, according to the state health department. County health departments test well water for a fee, and the state samples for free near known contamination. Here's what to test and where to find labs and well records. Every fact has a source.

Florida at a glance

• Who's on a well: the Florida Department of Health (DOH) says about 88% of residents get water from public systems and 12% from limited-use systems or private wells.² USGS estimates about 2.46 million Floridians supplied their own household water in 2015.¹
• Home sales: DOH says Florida has no requirement for well sampling when private homes are sold. For a sale, it recommends testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead.²
• DOH advice: test for coliform bacteria and nitrate every year, and most homeowners should test for lead every three years.²
• County health departments test well water, usually $20–30 per sample, plus $30–40 if staff collect it, according to DOH.²

County pages

Nothing published here yet.

Marion County had about 141,000 people on household wells in USGS's 2015 estimates, about 41% of its population, the most in Florida.¹ We're adding Florida county pages.

Buying a home with a well in Florida

DOH says Florida doesn't require well sampling when private homes are sold. Its general recommendation is to test private wells for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead, with other tests depending on the well's location, depth and condition.² Lenders may require testing: FHA's guidance, for example, requires testing when a state or locality requires it or when contamination is suspected, and lets lenders require more.⁵

A DOH-hosted brochure for real estate professionals (from the Water Systems Council) suggests checking that:³

• the well casing extends at least 12 inches above the ground;
• the well is at least 100 feet from sources of pollution, and uphill from the septic system.

See our homebuyer's guide for contingencies, flow tests and negotiating.

Contaminants to know about

DOH lists bacteria and nitrate as the basic yearly tests. It publishes fact sheets on arsenic and ethylene dibromide (EDB), and says testing for naturally occurring radiological contaminants may be recommended in some counties.² Ask the county health department what's found locally.

Where to test

• County health departments test well water (see prices above).² Find yours in DOH's county health department directory.
• Certified labs: Florida DEP's NELAP-certified laboratory search.²

Free and low-cost testing

• DEP Water Supply Restoration Program: free sampling of private wells near known contamination sites. See DEP's private well sampling page.⁴
• DOH says that where there's known contamination nearby, the health department may be able to test for certain toxic substances free of charge.² Ask your county health department.

Well records

Florida's five water management districts keep well completion reports. Search the one that covers the property:

• St. Johns River WMD: well completion report search
• Southwest Florida WMD: WMIS well construction permit search
• South Florida WMD: how to access well completion reports (PDF)
• Suwannee River and Northwest Florida WMDs: ask the district or the county health department.

Who to call

• County health departments: DOH directory.
• UF/IFAS Extension: find your local office.

Guides for Florida well owners

• Buying a home with a well
• Shock chlorinating a well
• What to do after a well floods
• How to read your well water test results