Typical values from 152 sampled wells in Pasco County · Full groundwater profile
What Are You Noticing in Your Water?
Pre-selected from Pasco 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 Pasco County and nearby counties
Most homes in Pasco County, in the Tampa Bay area, are on public water, but about one in thirteen still are not: 7.8% of built parcels, roughly 17,541 properties, draw drinking water from an onsite private well, according to the Florida Department of Health’s 2023 inventory.
Pasco County lies on the northern edge of the Tampa Bay area, where the Withlacoochee, Hillsborough, Anclote and Pithlachascotee rivers drain a landscape underlain by the Floridan Aquifer, the same aquifer the region’s public wellfields draw from. That geology shapes which well water problems show up most often here.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Pasco County
Most groundwater pumped in Pasco County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Across 152 sampled wells, the median hardness is 10.6 gpg, which the USGS classes as very hard. It applies to wells across Pasco County, including around Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Dade City.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 10.6 gpg; 68% of 152 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 0.43 mg/L; 54% of 149 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
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 13 Pasco 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 Pasco County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Pasco County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Pasco CountyPasco | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 68% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 54% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 16% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 7% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 34% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | 2% | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 2% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 10.6 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Pasco 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 Pasco County well needs
Opens the diagnostic calculator with Pasco County median values (10.6 gpg hardness, 0.43 ppm iron, pH 7) for a 3–4 person home. Swap in your own lab results for an exact plan.
Testing Your Well in Pasco County
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County drinking water program answers private well owners’ questions and samples drinking water wells near petroleum and dry-cleaning-solvent contamination sites under state cleanup programs. For routine testing, use an FDOH-certified commercial lab.
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 Pasco 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
- After any flood, new well work or a change in taste, color or smell
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco 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
Pasco County borders these counties with published reports:
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is well water in Pasco County?
Groundwater samples from 152 wells in Pasco County have a median hardness of 10.6 grains per gallon (181 mg/L), which the USGS classes as very hard. About 68% 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 Pasco County well water?
The median iron level across 149 sampled wells is 0.43 mg/L, above the EPA aesthetic guideline of 0.3 mg/L, and 54% of wells exceed it. Orange staining is common, and an iron filter sized to your test result is the usual fix.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Pasco County?
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 13 Pasco 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 Pasco County?
Most groundwater pumped in Pasco County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals).
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Pasco 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 Pasco County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s 2023 Florida Water Management Inventory found 7.8% of built parcels in Pasco County on private wells, roughly 17,541 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 Pasco County?
Routine private well testing in Pasco County is done through FDOH-certified commercial labs; DOH-Pasco’s drinking water program can answer questions and samples wells near known petroleum or dry-cleaning-solvent sites.
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.