Typical values from 32 sampled wells in Flagler County · Full groundwater profile
What Flagler County Wells Usually Need
Hard water with iron: 30.9 gpg and 0.4 ppm. The typical Flagler well carries both scale-forming hardness and enough iron (above 0.3 ppm) to stain fixtures, and the water is harder than in 56 of the other 57 Florida counties with enough data.
Is it safe? Generally yes in the records, though only your own test covers your well.
What a typical home here installs:
- A whole-house sediment filter first, so sand and scale do not foul the stages after it.
- An oxidizing iron filter for the 0.4 ppm iron, ahead of any softener.
- An 80,000-grain softener for a family of four at 30.9 gpg (includes 5 gpg per ppm of iron).
See the right order for these stages. Your own test result decides the final list.
Not sure what to install? Get a filter recommendation for Flagler County homesNot on a well? Tap water from a utility is covered by its yearly water quality report (CCR), not by these well samples. Find your utility's report
On this page (7 sections)
Where to Test Well Water in Flagler County
- Florida Department of Health in Flagler County—Environmental Health: 386-437-7358, P.O. Box 847, Bunnell, FL 32110. Drinking water program page
- Certified labs: how to find a state-certified lab (FDOH)
Contacts as listed on the official page, checked November 2026. Call before you go; hours and fees change.
What Are You Noticing in Your Water?
Pre-selected from Flagler County well data. Untick anything you do not notice in your own water.
Confirm with a lab test before buying equipment.
Explore Florida Interactive Map
Explore Flagler County and nearby counties
Nearly all homes in Flagler County, in Northeast Florida, are on public water. The Florida Department of Health's 2022 inventory counts 4.9% of built parcels, roughly 2,700 properties, on private wells, mostly on rural lots outside utility service areas.
Most groundwater pumped in Flagler County comes from the Floridan Aquifer, with a significant share also from the Surficial Aquifer System (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Samples from 32 local wells put the median hardness at 30.9 gpg (very hard) and median iron at 0.4 mg/L. The county's largest communities are Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Flagler County
Across 32 sampled wells, the median hardness is 30.9 gpg (very hard). At 30.9 gpg, Flagler wells run harder than St. Johns (23.2 gpg), Volusia (16.1 gpg) and Putnam (7.1 gpg) next door.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 30.9 gpg; 97% of 32 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 - IronMedian 0.4 mg/L; 53% of 32 sampled wells above 0.3 mg/L
Stains sinks, toilets and laundry orange-brown and can taste metallic. The EPA aesthetic guideline is 0.3 mg/L. See how to choose an iron filter for your test result.
Iron filter sizing guide - Chloride (salinity)Median chloride 494 mg/L
A salty taste and faster corrosion, often a sign of saltwater intrusion. The EPA aesthetic guideline is 250 mg/L.
Reverse osmosis guide
How Flagler County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Flagler County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Flagler CountyFlagler | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 97% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 53% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 19% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 63% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 9% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 0% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 30.9 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Sources: Water Quality Portal (since 2000); US: USGS Circular 1332. Highlighted: well above the US share.
See what a typical Flagler County well needs
Pre-filled with the Flagler medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Flagler County
The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County oversees private well permitting in the county and investigates suspected contamination. For routine bacteria, nitrate or full-panel tests, use a laboratory certified by the Florida Department of Health.
What to test for in Flagler 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
- Iron and manganese before choosing a filter
- Chloride and sodium, to catch saltwater intrusion
- After any flood, new well work or a change in taste, color or smell
Which tests to order and how: how to test well water.
After a positive coliform test, shock-chlorinate the well and retest 10 to 14 days later.
Nearby Counties
Flagler County borders these counties with published reports:
Putnam County
7.1 gpg hardness · HardnessSt. Johns County
23.2 gpg hardness · Hardness, Chloride (salinity)Volusia County
16.1 gpg hardness · Hardness, Chloride (salinity)Counties with similar well water
Not next door, but the groundwater is much the same:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Flagler County safe to drink?
Generally yes in the records: health limits are rarely exceeded in the 32 Flagler wells sampled. The common problems here (hardness and iron) affect taste, stains and plumbing, not health. Bacteria and nitrate can still turn up in any well, so test once a year.
How many homes in Flagler County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s Florida Water Management Inventory (2022 data) found 4.9% of built parcels in Flagler County on private wells, roughly 2,700 properties.
How hard is well water in Flagler County?
Very hard. The median Flagler well tests at 30.9 grains per gallon across 32 sampled wells (Florida median: 12.4 gpg), and 97% are above the 7 gpg mark where most homes add a softener.
Is iron a problem in Flagler County well water?
For many homes: 53% of 32 sampled Flagler wells are above 0.3 mg/L, with a median of 0.4 mg/L. Expect orange stains unless iron is filtered out ahead of any softener.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Flagler County?
Public lab records include sulfide results for only 1 wells in Flagler, not enough to judge. The smell comes from hydrogen sulfide; a sulfide test confirms it, and at household levels it is a nuisance, not a health hazard.
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Flagler County?
Boiling handles bacteria and nothing else. It does not soften Flagler water, remove iron or take out nitrate, which ends up more concentrated. Read when boiling helps and when it hurts.
How often should I test my well water in Flagler County?
The Florida Department of Health recommends testing private wells for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year, and again after flooding or well repairs. The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County can explain how to collect and submit samples.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.