Typical values from 35 sampled wells in Santa Rosa County · Full groundwater profile
What Santa Rosa County Wells Usually Need
Acidic water: median pH 4.7. At pH 4.7, well water in Santa Rosa County is more acidic than in 65 of the other 65 Florida counties with enough data, and acidic water can eat away at copper pipes and fixtures.
Is it safe? Generally yes in the records, though only your own test covers your well.
Typical treatment, in plumbing order:
- A sediment pre-filter first, so sand and scale do not foul the stages after it.
- An acid neutralizing filter to raise the pH above 6.5 and protect copper plumbing.
See how these stages fit together. Your own test result decides the final list.
Not sure what to install? Get a filter recommendation for Santa Rosa 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)
Well Water Testing in Santa Rosa County: Who to Call
- Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health: 850-983-5275. Well testing details
- 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?
Confirm with a lab test before buying equipment.
Explore Florida Interactive Map
Explore Santa Rosa County and nearby counties
Nearly all homes in Santa Rosa County, in the Florida Panhandle, are on public water. The Florida Department of Health's 2021 inventory counts 1.5% of built parcels, roughly 1,145 properties, on private wells, mostly on rural lots outside utility service areas. The water source of 29.8% of parcels is not recorded, so the real share of wells may be higher.
Most groundwater pumped in Santa Rosa County comes from the Sand-and-Gravel Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Samples from 35 local wells put the median hardness at 0.4 gpg (soft) and median iron at 0.03 mg/L. The county's largest communities are Navarre, Pace and Midway.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Santa Rosa County
Across 35 sampled wells, the median hardness is 0.4 gpg (soft). At 0.4 gpg, Santa Rosa wells run softer than Okaloosa (2.1 gpg) and about as soft as Escambia (0.5 gpg) next door.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- Low pH (acidic)Median pH 4.7; 97% of sampled wells below 6.5
Acidic water can corrode copper pipes and leach metals into the water. The EPA recommends a pH of 6.5 to 8.5.
Acid neutralizer guide
How Santa Rosa County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Santa Rosa County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Santa Rosa CountySanta Rosa | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 0% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 29% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | 3% | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 0% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 97% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 3% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 0.4 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 4.7 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Sources: Water Quality Portal (since 2000); US: USGS Circular 1332. Highlighted: well above the US share.
See what a typical Santa Rosa County well needs
Pre-filled with the Santa Rosa medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Santa Rosa County
The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa County:
- Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) and nitrate, at least once a year (Florida Department of Health recommendation)
- pH, since acidic water can corrode copper plumbing
- 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
Santa Rosa County borders these counties with published reports:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Santa Rosa County safe to drink?
Generally yes in the records: health limits are rarely exceeded in the 35 Santa Rosa wells sampled. Acidic water can dissolve copper and lead from household pipes, though, so test a first-draw tap sample for both. Bacteria and nitrate can still turn up in any well, so test once a year.
How many homes in Santa Rosa County use private wells?
The Florida Department of Health’s Florida Water Management Inventory (2021 data) found 1.5% of built parcels in Santa Rosa County on private wells, roughly 1,145 properties. The water source of 29.8% of parcels is unrecorded, so the true share may be higher.
How hard is well water in Santa Rosa County?
0.4 gpg (7 mg/L) in the typical well, based on 35 samples: soft on the USGS scale, against a Florida median of 12.4 gpg. 0% of sampled wells top 7 gpg, where a softener usually pays off.
Is iron a problem in Santa Rosa County well water?
Only in some wells. 29% of 35 sampled Santa Rosa 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.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Santa Rosa County?
The data cannot say: just 4 Santa Rosa wells were tested for hydrogen sulfide. If your water smells, test for sulfide, and if the smell is only in hot water, check the water heater anode rod. It is unpleasant but rarely a health risk.
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Santa Rosa County?
Boiling handles bacteria and nothing else. It does not soften Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa County can explain how to collect and submit samples.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.