Building a Home With a Well and Septic System in Southwest Florida

The Short Answer

If your lot does not have access to central water and sewer, your new home will use a private well for water and a septic system for wastewater. Both systems need permits, professional design and careful placement on the lot. They also affect where you can put the home, driveway, pool and future structures, so they should be planned at the very beginning of a project, ideally before you buy the lot.

Where Wells and Septic Systems Are Common

In our service area, private wells and septic systems are especially common in:

• Lehigh Acres, where many lots are outside central utility service.
• Alva, a rural community with acreage homesites.
• North Port, where some areas are served by city utilities and many are not.
• Port Charlotte, which has a patchwork of utility service.
• Golden Gate Estates in Naples, with larger semi-rural lots.
• Some parts of Cape Coral, where utility extension is not yet complete.

Utility availability can change from street to street, so always confirm for a specific lot.

How a Septic System Works

A conventional septic system has two main parts:

• The septic tank, where solids settle and are partially broken down.
• The drain field, a network of trenches or beds where liquid effluent is distributed into the soil for treatment.

The system is sized based on the home’s expected wastewater flow, which is typically tied to the number of bedrooms and the size of the home. Soil type and the depth of the seasonal high water table determine the drain field design.

Septic Permitting in Florida

Florida’s onsite sewage treatment and disposal system program is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A septic permit application usually includes a site evaluation, soil information, the lot layout showing the house, well, drain field and setbacks and system design details. After installation, the system is inspected before approval. Your builder and septic contractor coordinate these steps.

Raised and Mounded Drain Fields

Much of Southwest Florida has a high water table. When groundwater is too close to the surface, the drain field must be elevated with fill to provide the required separation. A raised drain field affects:

• Site grading and how the yard looks.
• Fill quantity and cost.
• Landscaping, since only grass or shallow-rooted plants should go over the drain field.
• Pool and lanai placement.

How a Private Well Works

A private well draws groundwater through a drilled and cased well, with a pump, pressure tank and controls delivering water to the home. Well construction permits are typically issued by the regional water management district or a delegated local agency, and wells must be drilled by licensed well contractors. Required separation distances apply between the well and the septic system, buildings and property lines.

Water Quality and Treatment

Groundwater in Southwest Florida often contains:

• Hardness from minerals, which leaves deposits on fixtures and in water heaters.
• Iron, which can stain sinks, laundry and driveways.
• Hydrogen sulfide, which causes a rotten-egg odor.

After the well is drilled, a water test identifies what treatment is needed. Common systems include water softeners, iron filters, aeration, carbon filtration and reverse osmosis for drinking water.

Planning the Site Around Well and Septic

On a well and septic lot, the site plan must balance many elements:

• The home within zoning setbacks.
• The septic tank and drain field with required separations.
• The well separated from the septic system, the home and property lines.
• The driveway and culvert.
• The pool, lanai and screen enclosure.
• Future structures such as a detached garage or workshop.
• Drainage so stormwater moves away from the home and drain field.

Because the drain field can take up a meaningful part of a typical lot, the order of decisions matters. We prepare the site plan early so the home, pool and systems all fit, and we recommend evaluating this before you buy. See our lot buying checklist.

Cost Factors

Costs vary by lot and design. Factors include:

• Soil and water table conditions, which determine drain field type.
• Fill for raised drain fields.
• System size, based on bedrooms and home size.
• Advanced treatment systems, where required.
• Well depth and pump type.
• Water treatment equipment.
• Permit fees.

We include these items in our preliminary budget so you see the full cost of building on the lot. Learn more in our guide to the cost to build a house in Southwest Florida.

Adding On Later

Septic systems are sized for the home’s original design. Adding bedrooms or bathrooms later may require evaluating and possibly enlarging the system with state approval. Additions also cannot be built over the drain field. If you think you may expand in the future, discuss it during design so the system and site plan can accommodate it.

Caring for Your Septic System

• Pump the tank periodically, as recommended by a septic professional.
• Do not flush wipes, grease, chemicals or other materials that do not break down.
• Keep vehicles, structures and trees off the drain field.
• Spread out water use, such as laundry, over the week.
• Watch for warning signs such as slow drains, odors or soggy areas.

Caring for Your Well

• Test water periodically and after flooding.
• Maintain treatment equipment on schedule.
• Protect the wellhead from damage and contamination.
• Know where the pressure tank and controls are.
• Have backup power so the well pump works during outages.

Hurricanes and Flooding

After a flood, wells can become contaminated and septic systems can be overwhelmed. Follow guidance from health and environmental officials about testing and disinfecting wells and inspecting septic systems. A generator connection keeps the well pump running during power outages.

Future Sewer Connections

Some Southwest Florida communities are expanding central sewer service, in part to protect water quality. If sewer becomes available in your area, connection requirements and assessments may apply. Check with your local utility about plans for your neighborhood.

Build With a Team That Knows Well and Septic Lots

We build new homes on well and septic lots throughout Southwest Florida, coordinating the site plan, permits and installation with licensed septic and well contractors. Learn more about our new home construction and floor-plan homes, or call (239)-898-1288 to talk about your lot.