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Educational Guide
What the numbers mean, what healthy ranges look like, and what to do when results are out of range — explained in plain English.
A water test report can feel overwhelming — a table of unfamiliar parameters, units, and numbers with no context for what any of it means. This guide translates those numbers into clear, actionable information. Whether you have received a report from our technician, a municipal utility, or a third-party lab, this reference will help you understand exactly what you are looking at.
Southwest Florida's water presents unique characteristics driven by the Floridan Aquifer System — a massive limestone formation that naturally dissolves into the water moving through it. Understanding your baseline is the first step toward protecting your health, your home, and your appliances.
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Reference Table
What we test for, what healthy ranges look like, and what action is recommended when results are out of range.
| Parameter | Unit | Ideal Range | Concerning | Florida Note | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Hardness | gpg / mg/L | 0–3 gpg (soft) | 7+ gpg | Sarasota: 15–25 gpg typical | Install an ion-exchange water softener or salt-free TAC conditioner |
| pH | pH units | 7.0–7.5 | 6.0–6.9 or 7.6–8.5 | Well water often 5.5–6.8 | Acidic: calcite neutralizer or soda ash injection. Alkaline: acidification or RO |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | mg/L (ppm) | Under 300 mg/L | 300–500 mg/L | Coastal wells can exceed 600 mg/L | Reverse osmosis system for drinking water; whole-house RO for high TDS |
| Iron (Ferrous) | mg/L (ppm) | Under 0.1 mg/L | 0.1–0.5 mg/L | Many SW Florida wells: 0.3–3.0 mg/L | Water softener for low levels; oxidation filter or iron-specific media for higher levels |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | mg/L (ppm) | Non-detectable | 0.05–0.5 mg/L (noticeable odor) | Deep well aquifers frequently affected | Aeration, oxidation filtration, activated carbon, or chlorination depending on concentration |
| Chlorine (Free) | mg/L (ppm) | 0.1–0.5 mg/L (municipal) | 0.5–1.0 mg/L (noticeable taste) | Municipal water: 0.5–1.5 mg/L typical | Activated carbon or catalytic carbon whole-house filter; RO for drinking water |
| Total Coliform Bacteria | CFU/100mL | 0 (absent) | Any detection is concerning | ~15% of untested private wells positive | UV sterilization, chlorination, or shock chlorination of well followed by retesting |
| Turbidity | NTU | Under 1 NTU | 1–4 NTU (visibly cloudy) | Increases during heavy rain events | Sediment pre-filter (5–50 micron), spin-down filter, or multi-stage filtration system |
Testing Schedule
Not all testing occasions are the same. Here are the key triggers that should prompt a water quality test.
Test your water at least once per year regardless of visible changes. Water quality shifts seasonally as rainfall, agricultural activity, and aquifer levels fluctuate. Annual testing establishes a baseline and catches changes early.
All water sourcesFloodwater can introduce bacteria, sediment, agricultural chemicals, and septic waste into wells and municipal systems. Always test after any flooding event that may have affected your water source before drinking untreated water.
Well water especiallyBefore moving into a new home or after drilling a new well, establish a comprehensive water quality baseline. Test for the full panel including bacteria, hardness, metals, pH, and any contaminants specific to your neighborhood or geology.
All water sourcesAny sudden or gradual change in how your water looks, smells, or tastes warrants immediate testing. These are your water telling you something has changed — do not ignore these signals.
All water sourcesSignificant plumbing repairs or pipe replacements can introduce flux, solder, or disturb biofilm in pipes. Testing after major plumbing work ensures nothing has changed in your water chemistry.
Municipal and wellIf multiple household members experience unexplained stomach illness, nausea, or diarrhea, bacterial contamination should be ruled out. Test immediately for coliform bacteria and E. coli.
Well water especiallyInterpreting Results
A step-by-step guide to making sense of your results.
Start with the parameters most likely to affect your daily life: hardness, pH, iron, and any odor-related measures like hydrogen sulfide. Flag anything outside the ideal range.
Bacterial contamination, nitrates, and PFAS are health priorities — address these first regardless of cost. Hardness and aesthetic issues (taste, smell, staining) are important but not acute health risks.
Water chemistry is interactive. High hardness combined with high iron may require a different treatment approach than either issue alone. High pH affects chlorine effectiveness. Our technicians consider the full picture.
Not every parameter needs treatment. If your pH is 7.0 and your hardness is 3 gpg, you may have excellent water. The goal is to treat what is actually out of range — not to sell unnecessary equipment.
After any system is installed, we test your water again to verify the system is performing as designed. This post-installation test is included with every system we install at no charge.
Our technician will test your water, explain every result in plain language, and recommend solutions only where they are genuinely needed.