Sarasota County, FL
These figures come from wells tested in Sarasota County, FL, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Sarasota County, FL (13 of 50 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Sarasota County, FL (460 of 859 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is not common in wells in Sarasota County, FL (3 of 49 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Sarasota County, FL are typically very hard (702 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 | 13 of 50 |
| Median | 0.104 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1923–2025 |
| Wells | 50 |
| Test results | 815 |
| Wells left out | 70 |
| Sources | USGS (182), 21FLSWFD_WQX (27), 21FLGW_WQX (22) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 6.1% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 49 |
| Median | 0.0042 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1963–2025 |
| Wells | 49 |
| Test results | 663 |
| Wells left out | 45 |
| Sources | USGS (59), 21FLSWFD_WQX (27), 21FLGW_WQX (22) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 93% |
| Median | 520 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1923–2025 |
| Wells | 702 |
| Test results | 1,960 |
| Wells left out | 74 |
| Sources | USGS (653), 21FLSWFD_WQX (27), 21FLGW_WQX (22) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 54% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 460 of 859 |
| Median | 290 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1923–2025 |
| Wells | 859 |
| Test results | 2,513 |
| Wells left out | 76 |
| Sources | USGS (810), 21FLSWFD_WQX (27), 21FLGW_WQX (22) |