Typical values from 136 sampled wells in Orange County · Full groundwater profile
What Orange County Wells Usually Need
Very hard water: 16.8 gpg. At 16.8 grains per gallon, well water in Orange County is harder than in 41 of the other 57 Florida counties with enough data.
Safe to drink? Usually, going by local records, but confirm with a yearly bacteria and nitrate test.
What a typical home here installs:
- A sediment pre-filter first, so sand and scale do not foul the stages after it.
- A 40,000-grain water softener for a family of four at 16.8 gpg (includes 5 gpg per ppm of iron).
See how a well water filtration system is laid out. Your own test result decides the final list.
Not sure what to install? Get a filter recommendation for Orange 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)
Well Water Testing in Orange County: Who to Call
- Florida Department of Health in Orange County: 407-858-1497. How the office handles well samples
- Published fees: coliform bacteria $49; lead $51; nitrate $62.
- Certified labs: how to find a state-certified lab (FDOH)
Contacts and fees 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 Orange 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 Orange County and nearby counties
Nearly all homes in Orange County, in Central Florida, are on public water. The Florida Department of Health's 2022 inventory counts 2.2% of built parcels, roughly 9,645 properties, on private wells, mostly on rural lots outside utility service areas.
Most groundwater pumped in Orange County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Samples from 136 local wells put the median hardness at 16.8 gpg (very hard) and median iron at 0.05 mg/L. The county's largest communities are Orlando, Alafaya and Pine Hills.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Orange County
Across 136 sampled wells, the median hardness is 16.8 gpg (very hard). At 16.8 gpg, Orange wells run harder than Osceola (10.2 gpg), Seminole (8.9 gpg) and Lake (6.9 gpg) and softer than Brevard (26.1 gpg) next door.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 16.8 gpg; 75% of 136 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
How Orange County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Orange County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Orange CountyOrange | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 75% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 28% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 8% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 40% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | 0% | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 3% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 16.8 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Sources: Water Quality Portal (since 2000); US: USGS Circular 1332. Highlighted: well above the US share.
See what a typical Orange County well needs
Pre-filled with the Orange medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Orange County
The Florida Department of Health in Orange 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 Orange 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
- 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 the well with the right bleach dose and retest 10 to 14 days later.
Nearby Counties
Orange County borders these counties with published reports:
Brevard County
26.1 gpg hardness · Hardness, Chloride (salinity)Lake County
6.9 gpg hardnessOsceola County
10.2 gpg hardness · HardnessSeminole County
8.9 gpg hardness · HardnessCounties with similar well water
Elsewhere in Florida, these counties have well water like Orange County:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Orange County safe to drink?
Generally yes in the records: health limits are rarely exceeded in the 136 Orange wells sampled. The common problems here (hardness) 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 Orange County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s Florida Water Management Inventory (2022 data) found 2.2% of built parcels in Orange County on private wells, roughly 9,645 properties.
How hard is well water in Orange County?
16.8 gpg (287 mg/L) in the typical well, based on 136 samples: very hard on the USGS scale, against a Florida median of 12.4 gpg. 75% of sampled wells top 7 gpg, where a softener usually pays off.
Is iron a problem in Orange County well water?
Usually not. Across 128 sampled wells the median is 0.05 mg/L, under the 0.3 mg/L stain threshold, though 28% of wells exceed it. If your fixtures stain, test for iron and manganese before buying a filter.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Orange County?
Public lab records include sulfide results for only 12 wells in Orange, 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 Orange County?
Only against germs. A one-minute rolling boil kills bacteria after a positive test or a boil water notice, but it leaves minerals and chemicals behind in less water. See what boiling can and cannot fix.
How often should I test my well water in Orange 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 Orange County can explain how to collect and submit samples.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.