Typical values from 80 sampled wells in Lee County · Full groundwater profile
What Lee County Wells Usually Need
Very hard water: 25.6 gpg. At 25.6 grains per gallon, well water in Lee County is harder than in 53 of the other 57 Florida counties with enough data.
Drink it untreated? Not untreated until a lab has checked it for arsenic.
What a typical home here installs:
- A whole-house sediment filter first, so sand and scale do not foul the stages after it.
- A softener in the 64,000-grain range for a family of four at 25.6 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 Lee County homesOn city or county water instead? Your utility publishes an annual water quality report; this page covers private wells. Find your utility's report
On this page (7 sections)
Where to Test Well Water in Lee County
- Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Environmental Engineering: 239-274-2200, 60 Danley Drive S Unit #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907. How the office handles well samples
- Sample bottles: available from this office; call for the current fee.
- 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 Lee 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 Lee County and nearby counties
Lee County, in Southwest Florida, is home to about 834,600 residents (2023 Census estimate). Here is what groundwater samples from local wells show, and how to test your own.
Most groundwater pumped in Lee County comes from the Surficial Aquifer System, with a significant share also from the Intermediate Aquifer System and the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Samples from 80 local wells put the median hardness at 25.6 gpg (very hard) and median iron at 0.03 mg/L. The county's largest communities are Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Lee County
Across 80 sampled wells, the median hardness is 25.6 gpg (very hard). At 25.6 gpg, Lee wells run harder than Collier (18.7 gpg) and Hendry (18 gpg) and softer than Charlotte (29.2 gpg) next door.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 25.6 gpg; 100% of 80 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 sulfideLimited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended.
Causes a rotten-egg smell, usually from low-oxygen groundwater, often stronger in hot water.
Sulfur treatment guide - Chloride (salinity)Median chloride 168 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 Lee County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Lee County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Lee CountyLee | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 100% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 38% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 7% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 63% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 0% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 5% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 25.6 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Sources: Water Quality Portal (since 2000); US: USGS Circular 1332. Highlighted: well above the US share.
See what a typical Lee County well needs
Pre-filled with the Lee medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Lee County
The Florida Department of Health in Lee 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 Lee 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
- Hydrogen sulfide if you notice a rotten-egg smell
- 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
Lee County borders these counties with published reports:
Charlotte County
29.2 gpg hardness · Hardness, Chloride (salinity)Collier County
18.7 gpg hardness · Hardness, Hydrogen sulfideHendry County
18 gpg hardness · Hardness, IronCounties with similar well water
Elsewhere in Florida, these counties have well water like Lee County:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Lee County safe to drink?
Many wells are fine, but in county records arsenic exceeded the 10 µg/L limit in 5% of 58 sampled wells. Have your water tested for these and for bacteria before you drink it untreated.
How hard is well water in Lee County?
Groundwater samples from 80 wells in Lee County have a median hardness of 25.6 grains per gallon (438 mg/L), which the USGS classes as very hard. About 100% 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 Lee County well water?
Only in some wells. 38% of 58 sampled Lee wells top the EPA’s 0.3 mg/L guideline; the typical well has 0.03 mg/L. Orange or black stains are the sign to get a lab test for iron and manganese.
Is arsenic a problem in Lee County well water?
Arsenic topped 10 µg/L in 5% of the 58 wells sampled here. You cannot see or taste it, so test for it, and use reverse osmosis or an arsenic filter if your result is high.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Lee County?
Public lab records include sulfide results for only 6 wells in Lee, 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 Lee County?
Boiling handles bacteria and nothing else. It does not soften Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County can explain how to collect and submit samples.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.