Alachua County, FL
These figures come from wells tested in Alachua County, FL, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Alachua County, FL (19 of 97 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese and sulfate are not common in wells in Alachua County, FL (2 of 90 and 3 of 111 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Alachua County, FL are typically very hard (123 wells tested).
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- iron (common in wells here)
- manganese
- hardness
- sulfate
Most well owners also test for these. We point to the source and don't interpret the results.
- arsenic: occurs naturally in groundwater in many regions. USGS: arsenic and drinking water
- nitrate: common near farmland and septic systems. EPA: private drinking water wells
- total coliform bacteria: the standard yearly well check. EPA: private drinking water wells
- lead and copper: from household plumbing, especially when pH is below 6.5. EPA: lead in drinking water
- PFAS: several states run private-well sampling programs. EPA: PFAS
- a certified lab: states certify labs and some run their own private-well programs. Florida's certified-lab list (from your state drinking-water program)
The numbers
County figures describe the wells sampled there, not any one well. Exact counts, sample years and sources are below.
Iron Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 20% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 19 of 97 |
| Median | 0.04845 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1960–2026 |
| Wells | 97 |
| Test results | 501 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | 21FLGW_WQX (53), 21FLSUW (16), 21FLSJWM_WQX (13), 21FLSUW_WQX (10), USGS (7) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 2.2% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 90 |
| Median | 0.00411578 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 2002–2026 |
| Wells | 90 |
| Test results | 285 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | 21FLGW_WQX (53), 21FLSJWM_WQX (13), 21FLSUW_WQX (10), 21FLSUW (9), USGS (5) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 58% |
| Median | 190 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1960–2026 |
| Wells | 123 |
| Test results | 815 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | 21FLGW_WQX (62), 21FLSUW (16), 21FLSJWM_WQX (13), 21FLSUW_WQX (10), 21FLGWMS_WQX (8), USGS (8), 21FLTLHR_WQX (6) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 2.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 111 |
| Median | 6.04075 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1960–2026 |
| Wells | 111 |
| Test results | 646 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | 21FLGW_WQX (62), 21FLSJWM_WQX (13), USGS (12), 21FLSUW_WQX (10), 21FLGWMS_WQX (8), 21FLTLHR_WQX (6) |