Polk County, FL
These figures come from wells tested in Polk County, FL, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Polk County, FL (37 of 127 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Polk County, FL (14 of 118 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Polk County, FL (18 of 377 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Polk County, FL are typically hard (378 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 (common in wells here)
- 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 | 29% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 37 of 127 |
| Median | 0.043 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1959–2025 |
| Wells | 127 |
| Test results | 760 |
| Wells left out | 78 |
| Sources | USGS (286), 21FLGW_WQX (44), 21FLSWFD_WQX (16) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 12% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 14 of 118 |
| Median | 0.00395 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1972–2025 |
| Wells | 118 |
| Test results | 709 |
| Wells left out | 80 |
| Sources | USGS (253), 21FLGW_WQX (44), 21FLSWFD_WQX (16), 21FLSFWM (1) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 24% |
| Median | 128 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1941–2025 |
| Wells | 378 |
| Test results | 1,026 |
| Wells left out | 79 |
| Sources | USGS (317), 21FLGW_WQX (44), 21FLSWFD_WQX (16), 21FLSFWM (1) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.8% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 18 of 377 |
| Median | 7.5 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1941–2025 |
| Wells | 377 |
| Test results | 1,169 |
| Wells left out | 77 |
| Sources | USGS (317), 21FLGW_WQX (44), 21FLSWFD_WQX (16) |