Well Water in Highlands County: What to Test and Why

High Risk
Testing Strongly Recommended 394 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Pfos Radon

Why This Happens Here

Well owners in Highlands County have clean groundwater with no contaminants detected at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Contamination levels here are low across the county.

The surficial aquifer system in this area sits in sandy and sandy soil layers that naturally filter water as it moves down from the surface. This porous material traps harmful substances before they reach the groundwater that supplies private wells. The region's land use, which is primarily rural and agricultural with lower urban density, also reduces the sources of contamination that threaten water supplies in more developed areas.

Mineral and aesthetic data for this county are not available from testing, so the exact character of the water cannot be described with certainty. Based on the surficial aquifer type common to this region, groundwater here is variable and may show modest mineral content, but specific patterns cannot be confirmed without direct measurement from your well.

What This Means for You

The good news is that county well water in Highlands County has not shown analytes exceeding EPA health standards in available data. However, the data collection for this area is incomplete, which means we don't have a full picture of what wells here actually contain. This uncertainty is why testing your specific well is important.

Without complete mineral data from the county, we can't tell you what aesthetic issues to expect from hard water, iron staining, or salty taste. Your well could have any combination of these concerns, or none at all. The only way to know what you're dealing with is to test your water directly.

We recommend starting with a comprehensive water test for your well. Every well in this county is different, and your well may have concerns that others don't have. Testing is the only way to find out what's actually in your water so you can treat it properly if needed. A basic test runs about fifty to one hundred dollars, while a more complete panel with metals and minerals costs two to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like iron filters or water softeners can address many common well water problems.

Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.

Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →

Contaminant Detection Data

Contaminant Samples % Above MCL Distribution Confidence Risk
Radon 3 67%
Low High
PFOS ⓘ municipal 29 24%
Moderate High
Sulfate 356 6%
High Moderate
Iron 314 6%
High Moderate
PFOA ⓘ municipal 29 3%
Moderate Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Lead 33 3%
Moderate Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Nitrate 104 3%
High Low
Chloride 356 2%
High Low
Manganese 275 1%
High Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 29 0%
Moderate Low
Uranium 8 0%
Low Low
PFNA ⓘ municipal 29 0%
Moderate Safe
Fluoride 281 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 29 0%
Moderate Safe
Nitrite 112 0%
High Low
Arsenic 33 0%
Moderate Low
Sodium 347
High Low
pH 322
High Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 29
Moderate Safe
E. coli 11* 0%
Low Low
Fecal Coliform 13* 0%
Low Low
Hardness 110
High Low
Total Coliform 24* 0%
Moderate Low

MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.

Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.

Order a Tap Score Test →

Population Health Context

Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.

10.4%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
12.4%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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