Manatee County, FL
These figures come from wells tested in Manatee County, FL, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Manatee County, FL (11 of 43 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Manatee County, FL (198 of 331 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is not common in wells in Manatee County, FL (2 of 41 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Manatee County, FL are typically very hard (298 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)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- manganese
- hardness
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 | 26% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 11 of 43 |
| Median | 0.0717 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1953–2025 |
| Wells | 43 |
| Test results | 538 |
| Wells left out | 27 |
| Sources | USGS (79), 21FLGW_WQX (22), 21FLSWFD_WQX (19), 21FLBRA (2) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.9% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 41 |
| Median | 0.0012 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1963–2025 |
| Wells | 41 |
| Test results | 431 |
| Wells left out | 27 |
| Sources | 21FLGW_WQX (22), 21FLSWFD_WQX (19), USGS (17) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 94% |
| Median | 540 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1930–2025 |
| Wells | 298 |
| Test results | 934 |
| Wells left out | 27 |
| Sources | USGS (255), 21FLGW_WQX (22), 21FLSWFD_WQX (19), 21FLBRA (2) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 60% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 198 of 331 |
| Median | 350 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1930–2025 |
| Wells | 331 |
| Test results | 1,193 |
| Wells left out | 27 |
| Sources | USGS (290), 21FLGW_WQX (22), 21FLSWFD_WQX (19) |