Highlands County, FL
These figures come from wells tested in Highlands County, FL, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Highlands County, FL (10 of 60 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese and sulfate are not common in wells in Highlands County, FL (2 of 25 and 4 of 100 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Highlands County, FL are typically moderately hard (94 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 | 17% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 10 of 60 |
| Median | 0.0282 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1989–2026 |
| Wells | 60 |
| Test results | 144 |
| Wells left out | 19 |
| Sources | USGS (72), 21FLGW_WQX (16), 21FLSWFD_WQX (2) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 8.0% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 25 |
| Median | 0.00248 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1995–2026 |
| Wells | 25 |
| Test results | 107 |
| Wells left out | 18 |
| Sources | USGS (36), 21FLGW_WQX (16), 21FLSWFD_WQX (2) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 26% |
| Median | 86.6 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1978–2026 |
| Wells | 94 |
| Test results | 184 |
| Wells left out | 16 |
| Sources | USGS (74), 21FLGW_WQX (16), 21FLSWFD_WQX (4) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.0% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 4 of 100 |
| Median | 9.365 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1978–2026 |
| Wells | 100 |
| Test results | 186 |
| Wells left out | 11 |
| Sources | USGS (82), 21FLGW_WQX (16), 21FLSWFD_WQX (2) |