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Introduction: What Regional Data Reveals and What It Does Not
Groundwater sampling in Lee County's 230SDMR aquifer offers valuable insights into total dissolved solids (TDS) levels, yet this regional data cannot precisely define your household well's water quality without individual testing. The U.S. Geological Survey collected 212 TDS measurements from 53 wells between 60 and 370 feet deep, recording a median of 172.5 mg/L and a range from 0.05 to 1710.0 mg/L. This data reflects area wells, not your specific source.
While 9 results exceeded the secondary aesthetic standard of 500 mg/L, this threshold pertains only to taste and staining concerns, not health safety. To address your household's water complexity, understanding this context supports informed decisions about treatment capacity and technology, such as the Fleck Complete Well System.
1. How to Judge Treatment Capacity Against Your Household's Daily Demand
Treatment capacity refers to the volume of water the system can effectively process before requiring regeneration. The Fleck Complete Well System features a grain capacity of 32,000 grains, indicating its ability to handle significant mineral loads typical of complete well water conditions. To ensure suitability, estimate your household's daily water use, including peak demand periods, then select a system capacity that aligns with or exceeds this volume for continuous effectiveness.
2. How Sample Depth, Well Depth, or Source Type Affects Water Expectations
The sampled wells ranged from 60 to 370 feet deep, which influences the observed TDS variability. Deeper wells may draw from older or more mineral-rich water, sometimes reflecting higher TDS ranges. Conversely, shallower wells can have lower or more variable concentrations. Understanding your own well's depth and source type helps anticipate potential water quality factors but cannot replace direct testing.
3. A Worked Example: Reading the Record’s Median and Range as a Homeowner
The regional median TDS of 172.5 mg/L suggests typical groundwater in Lee County is moderate in dissolved solids. However, the range reaching up to 1710 mg/L indicates some wells contain substantially higher mineral content, which may affect taste and cause staining. As a homeowner, this means your well could fall anywhere within this spectrum, underscoring the need to verify your specific water quality.
4. The Order in Which to Rule Things Out, from Cheapest Check to Laboratory Test
Begin by observing water appearance and taste for signs of high dissolved solids, such as cloudiness or unusual flavors. Next, consider simple home tests available for basic water parameters. Finally, obtain a comprehensive laboratory analysis focused on TDS and related constituents to accurately determine your water's condition. This step is crucial to guide treatment decisions tailored to your well.
5. What the Measured Range Means Against the Relevant Federal Standard, and What It Does Not Mean
The secondary standard for TDS at 500 mg/L functions as an aesthetic guideline related to taste and potential staining. Measurements above this level in the regional record do not imply health hazards or regulatory violations. They highlight the natural variation in groundwater quality that affects user experience but require no mandatory corrective action unless you find these traits undesirable.
6. What “Detected,” “Median,” and “Range” Mean in This Sampling Record
"Detected" indicates instruments measured TDS across all samples with no results below detection limits, confirming the constituent's presence in this aquifer. The "median" represents the middle value in the data set, providing a central tendency for the area's groundwater. The "range" shows the spread from the lowest to highest results, illustrating variability among sampled wells. These are area-wide indicators rather than specific well diagnostics.
Closing: The Single Test to Confirm Your Needs
The definitive step is to obtain a laboratory test of your own well water for total dissolved solids. This test will clarify where your water fits within or beyond the regional parameters, confirming the necessity and scale of treatment. Should your water quality align with typical values or exhibit elevated levels affecting taste or staining, the Fleck Complete Well System is designed to handle substantial treatment capacity to address those concerns effectively.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2012-08-09. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Total dissolved solids in the 230SDMR aquifer (Lee County): 212 results from 53 wells, median 172.5 mg/L, range 0.05-1710.0 mg/L; 9 above an AESTHETIC secondary standard only (secondary standard 500.0 mg/L (aesthetic)) - not a health finding