No dangerous contaminants have been detected in Okeechobee County groundwater. Contaminant levels here are low across the board.
The surficial aquifer that supplies wells in this county sits close to the surface and receives water from rain and surface runoff. The sandy and porous nature of this shallow layer, combined with the area's land use pattern of cattle ranching and agriculture, means water filters through soil and sand before reaching the groundwater. This natural filtering keeps contamination from reaching dangerous levels in most wells.
Water from the surficial aquifer in this county tends to contain elevated iron and other minerals that come from the sandy and shell-bearing rock layers beneath the surface. Rainwater passing through these sand layers picks up iron and other dissolved minerals as it moves downward. These characteristics appear across many wells in the county but vary from well to well depending on depth and location.
Good news -- the wells tested in Okeechobee County have not shown contaminants at levels that exceed EPA health standards. This means that across the county, private well owners are not facing immediate health concerns from the major drinking water contaminants that regulators track closely.
Some wells in this county do show iron in the water, which can cause orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Iron can also create a metallic taste and leave deposits in pipes and appliances. These problems are annoying and costly to fix, but they are not health risks.
We recommend that you test your well water to find out what is actually in your water. Every well is different, and your well could have higher or lower levels of iron and other minerals than what shows up in county data. Testing is the only way to know what you are dealing with so you can treat it properly if needed. A basic test runs about fifty to one hundred dollars and can help you decide if you need an iron filter or other treatment.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | 99 | 47% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 68 | 32% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 93 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrite | 13 | 8% | Low | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 60 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 58 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 14 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 57 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 64 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 22* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fecal Coliform | 31* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 40 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 52* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 93 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 93 | — | 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.
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