Typical values from 120 sampled wells in Alachua County · Full groundwater profile
What Are You Noticing in Your Water?
Pre-selected from Alachua County well data. Untick anything you do not notice in your own water.
Based on the contaminants most commonly reported in this region. Always confirm with a certified lab water test before buying equipment.
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Explore Alachua County and nearby counties
Most homes in Alachua County, in North Central Florida, are on public water, but more than one in five still are not: 22.5% of built parcels, roughly 19,275 properties, draw drinking water from an onsite private well, according to the Florida Department of Health’s 2022 inventory.
Alachua County, home to Gainesville and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, sits on karst limestone where the Floridan Aquifer lies close to the surface, and the springs along the Santa Fe River on its northern edge discharge water from that same aquifer. That geology shapes which well water problems show up most often here.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Alachua County
Most groundwater pumped in Alachua County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Across 120 sampled wells, the median hardness is 11.5 gpg, which the USGS classes as very hard. It applies to wells across Alachua County, including around Gainesville, Alachua and Newberry.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 11.5 gpg; 87% of 120 sampled wells above 7 gpg
Calcium and magnesium dissolved from limestone. Leaves scale on fixtures and water heaters and reduces soap lather. Not a health risk.
Water softener sizing
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 2 Alachua County wells, too few to say how common it is. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended. If you notice the smell, a sulfide test confirms it.
How Alachua County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Alachua County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Alachua CountyAlachua | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 87% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 20% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 2% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 5% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 4% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 11.5 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Alachua County and Florida: share of sampled wells (all well types, samples since 2000) whose typical value exceeds the level, from the Water Quality Portal. United States: USGS Circular 1332, about 2,100 domestic wells in 48 states sampled 1991 to 2004. Well types and years differ, so read this as a broad comparison. Highlighted cells are well above the national share.
See what a typical Alachua County well needs
Opens the diagnostic calculator with Alachua County median values (11.5 gpg hardness, 0.05 ppm iron, pH 7.2) for a 3–4 person home. Swap in your own lab results for an exact plan.
Testing Your Well in Alachua County
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County runs its own Microbiology Water Lab, which analyzes private well samples for bacteria. Sample bottles come from the department, and samples are accepted Monday through Thursday before 4 p.m., with results the following day.
For nitrates, metals, or a full panel, use a laboratory certified by the Florida Department of Health. The state’s private well water testing guide explains which tests to order and how to find a certified lab near you.
What to test for in Alachua County:
- Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) and nitrate, at least once a year (Florida Department of Health recommendation)
- Hardness in grains per gallon (gpg) to size a softener
- After any flood, new well work or a change in taste, color or smell
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County can explain how to collect samples and where to send them. Statewide guidance is on the FDOH private well testing page, and our guide to how to test well water covers which tests to order.
Nearby Counties
Alachua County borders these counties with published reports:
Bradford County
9.3 gpg hardness · Hardness, IronColumbia County
10.1 gpg hardness · HardnessGilchrist County
12.2 gpg hardness · HardnessLevy County
13.7 gpg hardness · HardnessMarion County
9.9 gpg hardness · Hardness, Hydrogen sulfidePutnam County
7.1 gpg hardness · HardnessUnion County
9.8 gpg hardness · Hardness, ArsenicFrequently Asked Questions
How hard is well water in Alachua County?
Groundwater samples from 120 wells in Alachua County have a median hardness of 11.5 grains per gallon (196 mg/L), which the USGS classes as very hard. About 87% of sampled wells are above 7 gpg, the point where a water softener is usually worthwhile. The Florida statewide median is 12.4 gpg.
Is iron a problem in Alachua County well water?
The median iron level across 97 sampled wells is 0.05 mg/L, below the EPA aesthetic guideline of 0.3 mg/L, and 20% of wells exceed it. Most wells will not stain, but if yours does, a lab test tells you whether iron or manganese is the cause.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Alachua County?
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 2 Alachua County wells, too few to say how common it is. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended. If you notice the smell, a sulfide test confirms it. The smell is a nuisance rather than a health risk at typical levels.
Which aquifer supplies wells in Alachua County?
Most groundwater pumped in Alachua County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals).
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Alachua County?
Only if bacteria are the problem. A one-minute rolling boil kills germs, but it does not remove nitrate, arsenic or other chemicals, and it concentrates them as water evaporates. Test first, and see our boiling well water myth buster for when boiling helps.
How many homes in Alachua County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s 2022 Florida Water Management Inventory found 22.5% of built parcels in Alachua County on private wells, roughly 19,275 properties. Most of the county’s built parcels are served by public water systems; private wells are most common on rural lots and older properties outside utility service areas.
Where can I get my well water tested in Alachua County?
DOH-Alachua’s Microbiology Water Lab tests private well samples for bacteria, using bottles provided by the department (samples accepted Monday through Thursday before 4 p.m.). For nitrates, metals, or a full panel, use any FDOH-certified commercial lab.
Do I need to test my well water if my neighbors say theirs is fine?
Yes. Well depth, casing condition, and the exact aquifer layer tapped can vary block to block, so one neighbor’s clean test does not guarantee another’s. A full annual test is the only reliable way to know what is in your own water.
Is Floridan Aquifer water generally safe to drink untreated?
Much of it is chemically safe but aesthetically unpleasant (hard, sulfur-smelling, or iron-stained), which is why treatment here is usually about comfort and plumbing protection rather than an acute health risk. A lab test is still the only way to rule out bacteria, nitrates, or other contaminants specific to your well.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.