Well Water in Palm Beach County: What to Test and Why

High Risk
Testing Strongly Recommended 9007 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Radon Iron Pfos

Why This Happens Here

Contaminant levels in Palm Beach County groundwater are low. No harmful contaminants have been detected above EPA health standards in wells across the county.

The groundwater here stays clean because of the local sand and shells that make up the surficial aquifer. These materials act like a natural filter, trapping contaminants before they reach the water that wells draw from. The sandy soil and shells also do not release harmful minerals into the water naturally.

Specific mineral and hardness data are not available for this county, but the sandy and shell-based aquifer typically produces water that is not hard. Sand and shell material do not contain the limestone or minerals that would add calcium and magnesium to groundwater. Most wells in this county draw from similar sandy conditions, so mineral levels are generally consistent across the area.

What This Means for You

Good news--the county data shows that wells in Palm Beach County do not have analytes exceeding EPA health standards. This means the most serious water quality problems found in other Florida counties have not shown up here.

Without complete mineral data available for the county, we cannot describe typical staining, scale, or taste issues in local well water. Your well's mineral content depends on its exact location and depth.

We recommend testing your well water to find out exactly what you have. Every well is different, and testing is the only way to know what treatment your family needs. A basic screening for bacteria and nitrate costs around fifty to one hundred dollars. If you want more information, a comprehensive panel covering metals and minerals runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Many well owners use filters or water softeners once they understand their water's makeup.

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 36 64%
Moderate High
Iron 674 56%
High High
PFOS ⓘ municipal 52 46%
Moderate High
PFOA ⓘ municipal 52 37%
Moderate High
Chloride 8806 29%
High High
Manganese 445 13%
High Moderate
Sulfate 1606 11%
High Moderate
Arsenic 551 5%
High Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Lead 534 3%
High Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 52 2%
Moderate Low
Nitrate 979 1%
High Low
Fluoride 1462 0%
High Low
Nitrite 822 0%
High Low
PFNA ⓘ municipal 52 0%
Moderate Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 52 0%
Moderate Safe
Uranium 68 0%
Moderate Low
E. coli 58* 0%
Moderate Low
Fecal Coliform 71* 0%
Moderate Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 52
Moderate Low
Hardness 1477
High Low
Total Coliform 129* 0%
High Low
pH 1710
High Low
Sodium 1458
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.

5.6%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
2.8%
Kidney Disease Rate
(state avg: 3.4%)
8.3%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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