FL Dept. of Health – Columbia County Health Department
FL certified
Homeowner samples
- Coliform Bacteria
Florida county well guide
Well Water in Lafayette County, FL: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 2,979 households in Lafayette County, 86% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
0licensed 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 Lafayette County, roughly 86% of households, about 2,979 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 Lafayette County
The rules that apply in Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 is one more within 40 miles, listed below with what it tests for.
2 certified labs within 40 miles
Eurofins Madison
FL certified
- Coliform Bacteria
Licensed well contractors serving Lafayette County
No licensed contractor lists Lafayette County as a home base or service area yet. The finder below searches the whole state; most drillers travel several counties for a job.
No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.
Well depth and water chemistry
Well depth and water chemistry in Lafayette 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: Suwannee County, Taylor County, Columbia County, Dixie County.
What well work costs in Lafayette County
Basic bacteria and nitrate test$25 to $75lab fee, homeowner sample
Full panel lab test$150 to $400metals, VOCs, radiologicals
Well inspection$250 to $550flow, pressure, visual, water test
Submersible pump replacement$1,200 to $4,500parts and labor
Pressure tank replacement$400 to $1,200installed
Whole-house treatment system$800 to $6,000softener, iron filter, UV, RO
New well drilled$5,500 to $25,000about $25 to $65 per foot
Shock chlorination$80 to $300or about $20 as a DIY job
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Lafayette County well owners ask
How many homes in Lafayette County are on a well?
About 2,979, or 86% 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette County?
A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.