Florida county well guide

Well Water in Baker County, FL: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 8,396 households in Baker County, 77% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
77%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Baker County77%
Florida average12%
4licensed contractors serve the county
31 mito the nearest certified lab, FL Dept. of Health – Columbia County Health Department
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

In Baker County, roughly 77% of households, about 8,396 homes, draw their water from a private well. Nobody tests it, treats it or inspects it unless the owner does.

Local rules for wells in Baker County

The rules that apply in Baker County are set at the state level in Florida. The state does not require a test on a new well, and nothing is required at sale. Some counties and townships add permits or setbacks of their own, so check locally before drilling. The state's own recommendations are below.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellNot required statewide

No statewide water test for a new well. What is required is a well construction permit from your water management district (or the county health department where the district has delegated permitting) before drilling, a licensed water well contractor, construction to the Chapter 62-532 standards (setbacks from septic systems, grouted casing, disinfection) and a completion report from the driller. The exception is a delineated area under Chapter 62-524: where groundwater is known to be contaminated, a new drinking water well needs a permit through the county health department and the water is sampled and cleared before the well is used.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from a certified lab before closing, and buyers of homes in delineated contamination areas should ask the county health department for the well's file.

What the state recommends

The Florida Department of Health recommends a coliform bacteria and nitrate test at least once a year and a lead test every three years, plus arsenic, ethylene dibromide and naturally occurring radionuclides where the county health department advises it. Add hardness, iron, sulfide, sodium and chloride on a first test, and test again after flooding, a hurricane, repairs or any change in taste, color or smell.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

The Department of Health's Well Surveillance Program samples private wells near known contamination sites free of charge and notifies owners of the results; if your well is inside a delineated area you may already be on the list. Elsewhere, county health departments give out bottles and instructions and test bacteria and nitrate for about $20 to $30 a sample, or $30 to $40 more if staff collect it.

Getting your water tested near Baker County

The nearest certified lab is FL Dept. of Health – Columbia County Health Department in Lake City, about 31 miles from the county center, and it accepts samples from homeowners. There are 4 more within 40 miles, listed below with what each tests for.

5 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Baker County

Licensed help in Baker County includes B&c Welldrilling & Pump Service and Jimmy Martin Well Drilling Inc and 2 others. Every listing was matched to the Florida license list; the "verify" link on each profile opens the state lookup.

Well depth and water chemistry

Well depth and water chemistry in Baker County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 20 to 80 ft in the surficial aquifer of the Panhandle, the Suwannee valley and southwest Florida; 100 to 400 ft in the Floridan aquifer across north and central Florida; 60 to 150 ft in the Biscayne aquifer of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Florida include coliform bacteria (shallow surficial wells, wells flooded by storms), nitrate (suwannee basin, agricultural areas).

Typical well depth

Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.

Contaminants to test for
  • Coliform bacteria (shallow surficial wells
  • Wells flooded by storms)
  • Nitrate (Suwannee basin
  • Agricultural areas)
  • Hydrogen sulfide and hardness (Floridan aquifer)
  • Iron and tannin-stained water (surficial wells)
  • Arsenic (old cattle dip vat sites
  • Former citrus and golf course land
  • Parts of southwest Florida)
  • Radium and radon (central Florida phosphate district)
  • Ethylene dibromide (former farmland in central and north Florida)
  • Saltwater and chloride (coastal wells)
  • PFAS near airfields and fire training sites

Neighboring counties: Union County, Bradford County, Clay County, Columbia County.

What well work costs in Baker County

Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$17 to $40published Florida lab fees
Nitrate test$10 to $80varies by lab; ask when you order
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$85 to $450state and university lab packages
Well inspection$250 to $550$350 to $900 with water testing
Submersible pump replacement$1,000 to $2,500installed; deep wells cost more
Pressure tank replacement$800 to $1,500installed
One treatment unit$700 to $3,500softener, iron filter or UV, installed
Multi-stage whole-house treatment$2,500 to $10,000+several units or whole-house RO, installed
New well, complete$6,000 to $16,000typical 200 ft well with pump; drilling alone about $20 to $30 per foot; deeper wells cost more
Shock chlorination$80 to $200by a contractor; under $30 to do yourself

Bacteria test through a county health department ($17) or direct at the state lab ($40); certified labs set their own nitrate prices. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Florida Department of Health: well water testing, Florida DOH in Indian River County, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.

Questions Baker County well owners ask

How many homes in Baker County are on a well?

About 8,396, or 77% of households, based on Census housing data and state well surveys. The share is highest outside the towns with public water.

Where is the closest certified lab to Baker County?

FL Dept. of Health – Columbia County Health Department in Lake City, about 31 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.

Do I need a permit to drill a well in Baker County?

No statewide water test for a new well. What is required is a well construction permit from your water management district (or the county health department where the district has delegated permitting) before drilling, a licensed water well contractor, construction to the Chapter 62-532 standards (setbacks from septic systems, grouted casing, disinfection) and a completion report from the driller. The exception is a delineated area under Chapter 62-524: where groundwater is known to be contaminated, a new drinking water well needs a permit through the county health department and the water is sampled and cleared before the well is used.

What does a well test cost near Baker County?

Published lab fees in Florida: $17 to $40 for a bacteria test. Bacteria test through a county health department ($17) or direct at the state lab ($40); certified labs set their own nitrate prices. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.