Well Water in Okaloosa County: What to Test and Why

Moderate Risk
Testing Recommended 304 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Iron

Why This Happens Here

No contaminants have been detected in Okaloosa County's groundwater at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Contaminant levels here are low across the county.

The coastal lowlands aquifer system that supplies water to this county sits in sandy and shell-based sediments near sea level. These loose, permeable materials and the area's sandy soils allow rainwater to filter down quickly without picking up harmful substances, and the sandy geology does not naturally release high levels of problematic minerals or contaminants into the water.

Mineral and hardness data are not available for this county, so the exact character of the water cannot be stated with confidence. The sandy coastal geology here does not typically produce the elevated hardness or iron that limestone or iron-rich rock areas develop. Well water quality varies from one location to another in Okaloosa County.

What This Means for You

The good news is that testing across Okaloosa County has not found contaminants at levels that exceed EPA health standards. This means wells in this county are generally performing well from a health perspective, though your individual well could still have issues that differ from the county average.

Some wells in this county show elevated iron, which can cause orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Iron can also create a metallic taste in your water and leave rust-colored deposits in pipes and appliances. These problems are mostly annoying rather than dangerous, but they can be frustrating to deal with over time.

We recommend testing your well water to find out exactly what you have. Every well is different, and your water could have much higher or much lower iron levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly if needed. A basic screen costs around fifty to one hundred dollars, while a more complete test for metals and minerals runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Iron removal systems or water softeners can help if testing shows elevated levels.

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
Iron 180 34%
High High
Lead 37 5%
Moderate Moderate
Manganese 161 3%
High Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Arsenic 38 3%
Moderate Low
Chloride 267 2%
High Low
Sulfate 230 0%
High Low
Fluoride 230 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 164 0%
High Safe
Nitrite 15 0%
Moderate Low
Radon 2 0%
Low Low
Uranium 3 0%
Low Safe
Nitrate 194 0%
High Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 164 0%
High Safe
PFOS ⓘ municipal 164 0%
High Safe
PFNA ⓘ municipal 164 0%
High Safe
PFOA ⓘ municipal 164 0%
High Safe
pH 253
High Low
Sodium 202
High Low
Hardness 200
High Low
Total Coliform 30* 0%
Moderate Low
E. coli 10* 0%
Low Low
Fecal Coliform 20* 0%
Moderate Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 164
High Safe

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.

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Population Health Context

Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.

6.8%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
2.9%
Kidney Disease Rate
(state avg: 3.4%)
5.8%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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