Well Water in Hillsborough County: What to Test and Why

Moderate Risk
Testing Recommended 9267 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Radon Pfos Iron

Why This Happens Here

Groundwater testing in Hillsborough County shows no contaminants at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Contaminant levels here are low, which is good news for well owners.

The surficial aquifer system in this county sits close to the land surface and draws water from rain that filters down through sand and soil layers. This sandy geology naturally filters out many harmful substances before they reach the groundwater. The area's land use, which includes both urban development and natural areas, does not produce the kinds of industrial or agricultural pollution that would overwhelm this natural filtering process.

Information about specific minerals in Hillsborough County groundwater is not available from testing data, so the mineral character of water varies from well to well depending on local conditions. The surficial aquifer draws from sandy soils and loose rock layers that generally contain lower mineral concentrations than deeper limestone-based aquifers. Some wells in the county may have elevated iron or other minerals, while others will be clearer and softer, but testing your own well is the best way to know what you have.

What This Means for You

Good news for wells in Hillsborough County. The county data shows that no contaminants are exceeding EPA health standards in well water samples tested here. This means the common water quality in the area does not present the health concerns that come with bacteria, nitrates, or other harmful substances at unsafe levels.

Since the available mineral data for this county is limited, we cannot tell you what aesthetic issues wells in Hillsborough County commonly face. Some wells in Florida have iron or other minerals that cause staining, taste problems, or scale buildup on fixtures and appliances, while others do not. Testing your well is the only way to find out what you are actually dealing with.

We recommend testing your well water to see what is actually coming from your specific well. Every well is different, and yours may have higher or lower levels of contaminants or minerals than what is common in the county. A basic test for bacteria and nitrate costs around fifty to one hundred dollars, while a more complete metals and minerals panel runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Once you know what is in your water, you can decide whether treatment like filtration or a water softener makes sense for your home.

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 75 47%
Moderate High
PFOS ⓘ municipal 55 45%
Moderate High
Iron 2677 44%
High High
Sulfate 3364 27%
High High
Chloride 8617 20%
High High
PFOA ⓘ municipal 55 18%
Moderate High
Arsenic 843 6%
High Moderate
Manganese 1676 6%
High Moderate
Lead 901 5%
High Moderate
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 55 2%
Moderate Low
Nitrate 1215 1%
High Low
Fluoride 1980 0%
High Low
Nitrite 1205 0%
High Low
Uranium 128 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 55 0%
Moderate Safe
PFNA ⓘ municipal 55 0%
Moderate Safe
pH 3217
High Low
Sodium 3135
High Low
E. coli 46* 0%
Moderate Low
Fecal Coliform 66* 0%
Moderate Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 55
Moderate Low
Hardness 2949
High Low
Total Coliform 112* 0%
High 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.

5.9%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
3.0%
Kidney Disease Rate
(state avg: 3.4%)
6.3%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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