Typical values from 105 sampled wells in Palm Beach County · Full groundwater profile
What Palm Beach County Wells Usually Need
Very hard water: 17.8 gpg. At 17.8 grains per gallon, well water in Palm Beach County is harder than in 44 of the other 57 Florida counties with enough data.
Drink it untreated? Most sampled wells meet health limits; a yearly test confirms yours does.
Typical treatment, in plumbing order:
- A sediment pre-filter first, so sand and scale do not foul the stages after it.
- A 48,000-grain water softener for a family of four at 17.8 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 Palm Beach 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)
Getting Your Well Tested in Palm Beach County
- Florida Department of Health (DOH) Environmental Laboratory in West Palm Beach: 561-840-4500. Well testing details
- 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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County and nearby counties
Nearly all homes in Palm Beach County, in Southeast Florida, are on public water. The Florida Department of Health's 2024 inventory counts 2.3% of built parcels, roughly 13,980 properties, on private wells, mostly on rural lots outside utility service areas.
Most groundwater pumped in Palm Beach County comes from the Surficial Aquifer System (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Samples from 105 local wells put the median hardness at 17.8 gpg (very hard) and median iron at 0.27 mg/L. The county's largest communities are West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Palm Beach County
Across 105 sampled wells, the median hardness is 17.8 gpg (very hard). At 17.8 gpg, Palm Beach wells run harder than Martin (15.8 gpg) and about as hard as Hendry (18 gpg) and Broward (16.4 gpg) next door.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 17.8 gpg; 91% of 105 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 sulfide30% of 40 wells tested for sulfide above 0.1 mg/L
Causes a rotten-egg smell, usually from low-oxygen groundwater, often stronger in hot water.
Sulfur treatment guide - Chloride (salinity)Median chloride 85 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
Hydrogen sulfide is common here: 30% of 40 wells tested in Palm Beach County were above 0.1 mg/L, enough to produce a noticeable rotten-egg smell.
How Palm Beach County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Palm Beach County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Palm Beach CountyPalm Beach | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 91% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 48% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 14% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 40% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 8% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | 0% | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 2% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 17.8 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 Palm Beach County well needs
Pre-filled with the Palm Beach medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Palm Beach County
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach 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
Palm Beach County borders these counties with published reports:
Broward County
16.4 gpg hardness · Hardness, IronHendry County
18 gpg hardness · Hardness, IronMartin County
15.8 gpg hardness · Hardness, IronCounties with similar well water
Farther away, these Florida counties share the same main water issues:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Palm Beach County safe to drink?
Usually, as far as public records go: no health-based limit is commonly exceeded across 105 sampled Palm Beach wells. The common problems here (hardness) affect taste, stains and plumbing, not health. Still test for bacteria and nitrate every year, because county data cannot vouch for a single well.
How many homes in Palm Beach County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s Florida Water Management Inventory (2024 data) found 2.3% of built parcels in Palm Beach County on private wells, roughly 13,980 properties.
How hard is well water in Palm Beach County?
17.8 gpg (304 mg/L) in the typical well, based on 105 samples: very hard on the USGS scale, against a Florida median of 12.4 gpg. 91% of sampled wells top 7 gpg, where a softener usually pays off.
Is iron a problem in Palm Beach County well water?
Only in some wells. 48% of 101 sampled Palm Beach wells top the EPA’s 0.3 mg/L guideline; the typical well has 0.27 mg/L. Orange or black stains are the sign to get a lab test for iron and manganese.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Palm Beach County?
Hydrogen sulfide is common here: 30% of 40 wells tested in Palm Beach County were above 0.1 mg/L, enough to produce a noticeable rotten-egg smell. The smell is a nuisance rather than a health risk at typical levels.
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County can explain how to collect and submit samples.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.