Recap: Basics of Private Wells Webinar

Last Updated on August 26, 2025 by Yilin

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Basics of Private Wells webinar, hosted by the UF/IFAS Extension Florida Well Owner Network. We had strong participation and great audience questions!

What We Covered

This webinar introduced the essentials of private well ownership, including:

How private wells work
Common water quality concerns in Florida
Routine maintenance and testing recommendations
Steps homeowners can take to protect their well and drinking water

If you missed it, you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/iP-I6c5J06U

Audience Q&A Highlights

We had an excellent set of questions from participants. Here are some of the top ones:

Q: Do you have lists of well drillers or septic system installers?

A: Licensed septic tank contractors are available through the Florida Department of Health: https://www.floridahealth.gov/statistics-and-data/eh-tracking-and-reporting/septic-tank-contractors.html. Licensed well contractors are listed through the regional water management districts: https://floridadep.gov/water/source-drinking-water/content/water-well-contractor-licensing-and-permitting. For local contractor information, you check with your regional Water Management District (WMD) or local health department.

Suwannee River Water Management District: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/1577/Licensed-Water-Well-Contractors

Southwest Florida Water Management District: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/epermitting/well-contractors

South Florida Water Management District: https://www.sfwmd.gov/document/water-well-contractor-list

For the Northwest Florida WMD (850-539-5999) and the St. John’s WMD (386-329‑4500), contact them directly for further information.

Q: Where can I find information about the depth of my well when it was originally drilled?

A: There are a few ways you may be able to track down this information:

Check with your local health department: They may have well construction records on file. If not, they can often refer you to your regional Water Management District, which handles well permitting.
Inspect your wellhead: Some wells have a metal plate or tag attached that lists basic information about the well, including depth and contractor details.
Contact the well driller: If you know who drilled your well, reach out to them directly, as they may records of the work. If you don’t know who drilled your well, ask your neighbors. They may know which companies historically drilled in the area.
Ask your neighbors: If your records are missing, sometimes nearby wells drilled around the same time provide a good estimate of local well depths.

Q: Are sulfates and sulfur the same thing? My well water smells like rotten eggs.

A: Sulfur and sulfate are related but not the same. The “rotten egg” smell is usually caused by hydrogen sulfide gas in the water, not sulfate. For more details, see Penn State Extension Hydrogen Sulfide (Rotten Egg Odor) in Water Wells: https://extension.psu.edu/hydrogen-sulfide-rotten-egg-odor-in-water-wells

Q: What about store-bought water testing kits (like from home improvement stores)?

A: Many over-the-counter kits provide only very limited screening. For reliable results, we recommend using certified laboratories.

Q: Is there a minimum setback from ponds, lakes, or other water bodies for private wells?

A: Yes. Florida regulations require minimum separation distance of 75 feet between wells and surface water bodies to reduce contamination risks. Requirements may vary by county. Please also check with your local health department.

Q: Is there any advantage or disadvantage to raising the well casing higher than 12 inches above ground?

A: A well casing must extend at least 12 inches above ground, but extending it higher may provide additional protection against flooding. The key is making sure the casing is properly sealed and protected.

Q: Is it true that the state won’t let you into your home if your well water tests contaminated?

A: In Florida, homeowners are responsible for maintaining their own private wells. If your well water tests indicate contamination, state or county agencies will not prevent you from living in your home. Instead, you may receive recommendations for treatment, retesting, or using an alternative drinking water source until the problem is resolved.

Water Testing Kit Drawing

As part of this webinar series, we are giving away a $200 home water testing kit. The first drawing was held on Monday, August 25. You can watch the drawing here. A reminder: after each webinar, we will hold a drawing and give away another water testing kit.