What Does Depth of Sampling Tell You About Your Well Water?
Government groundwater monitoring in Hillsborough County's bedrock aquifers sampled wells ranging from 110 to 1100 feet deep. Iron was detected in 48 of 118 samples taken from 117 separate wells during 2012-2013. This data reflects the range of iron concentrations in the area aquifer as a whole, not in any single well. Depth and source type influence what you might expect from your own well water, but only personal laboratory testing of your well can confirm actual iron content.
Which Home Fixtures Are Affected First by Bedrock Aquifer Iron?
Iron presence in bedrock aquifer water can cause effects most noticeable in appliances and fixtures where water is heated or remains stagnant, such as water heaters, dishwashers, and faucets. Iron may cause discoloration or staining over time. These symptoms often prompt homeowners to consider treatment for total well water quality improvement.
How Does Treated Water Differ After Using the C-Series System?
The C-Series Total Well Chlorination System is designed to treat water supplying the entire household. When configured, it reduces iron-related concerns by oxidizing and removing iron before water reaches your fixtures, resulting in clearer water and reduced staining potential. This system ships ready to configure, enabling households to address total well water quality efficiently.
What Do the Measured Iron Concentration Ranges Indicate Compared to Federal Standards?
The area sampling showed iron concentrations ranging from 70.0 to 13,000.0 micrograms per liter, with a median of 180.0 micrograms per liter. None of these measurements surpassed federal thresholds for iron in groundwater. It is important to understand that detection of iron—even at levels above aesthetic guidelines—is not a violation or a safety concern by itself. The ranges are indicative of natural variation in bedrock aquifer water but do not alone determine treatment necessity.
How Is Total Well Treatment Different from Targeted Iron or Other Specific Treatments?
Total well water treatment addresses multiple water quality factors simultaneously, rather than targeting a single constituent. This differs from systems designed solely to address iron or other individual contaminants. The C-Series System, for example, provides broad treatment capability appropriate for total well water challenges characteristic of deep bedrock aquifer sources in Hillsborough County.
What Should You Not Assume from Area Water Data About Your Own Well?
Area data from government sampling informs general expectations but cannot substitute for your own well test results. Detection of iron in area aquifer samples does not establish your well’s iron concentration or treatment needs. Homeowners should arrange laboratory testing of their own water to determine specific conditions before choosing the appropriate class of treatment system.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2013-09-20. 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 Iron in the BEDROCK aquifer (Hillsborough County): 118 results from 117 wells, median 180.0 ug/L, range 70.0-13000.0 ug/L; none above any federal threshold