Well Water in Pinellas County: What to Test and Why

High Risk
Testing Strongly Recommended 5865 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Iron Manganese Chloride

Why This Happens Here

No contaminants detected in Pinellas County groundwater that exceed EPA health standards. Contaminant levels here are low.

The geology of this area helps keep groundwater clean. Pinellas County sits on rock and soil layers that naturally filter water as it moves underground, preventing harmful substances from building up in the water that feeds wells.

Based on the aquifer type in this county, groundwater likely contains elevated minerals like calcium and magnesium that come from the rock layers beneath the surface. These minerals dissolve naturally as water passes through the ground. Hard water is common across wells in this county, though individual wells vary in their exact mineral content.

What This Means for You

Tests of wells throughout Pinellas County have not found contaminants exceeding EPA health standards. However, because this county is flagged as a priority area for arsenic, wells here need specific attention. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can dissolve into groundwater and poses serious health risks with long-term exposure, including increased cancer risk and damage to the nervous system. Testing your well is the best way to know if arsenic or other contaminants are present in your water.

Mineral content in county wells has not shown widespread quality-of-life concerns. However, groundwater conditions vary from property to property, so your well could have different mineral levels than others nearby. Some wells in sandy coastal areas can have elevated sodium or iron, which would cause issues like salty taste, staining, or metallic odor. Only testing your specific well will tell you what you are dealing with.

We recommend testing your well for arsenic and a basic bacterial screen. Since wells vary so much in this county, testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water and what treatment you might need. A basic screening costs about fifty to one hundred dollars. If results show arsenic or other metals, a more detailed panel and treatment options like activated carbon filters or ion exchange systems can address the problem.

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 896 70%
High High
Chloride 5280 54%
High High
Sulfate 1402 27%
High High
Manganese 437 26%
High High
PFOS ⓘ municipal 64 9%
Moderate Moderate
Arsenic 1145 9%
High Moderate
PFOA ⓘ municipal 64 8%
Moderate Moderate
Nitrate 1760 6%
High Moderate
Lead 788 2%
High Low
Fluoride 757 0%
High Low
Nitrite 1798 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 64 0%
Moderate Safe
Uranium 2 0%
Low Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 64 0%
Moderate Low
PFNA ⓘ municipal 64 0%
Moderate Safe
pH 2297
High Low
Sodium 1874
High Low
Hardness 1607
High Low
Total Coliform 17* 0%
Moderate Low
E. coli 7* 0%
Low Low
Fecal Coliform 10* 0%
Low Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 64
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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Population Health Context

Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.

8.6%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
3.7%
Kidney Disease Rate
(state avg: 3.4%)
5.8%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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