Youch! Yeah, what are wells in Florida, 50 ft maybe? My wells have always been 100 to 150 ft deep at least. The septic effluent has to filter down through >100ft of soil. Newer septic designs are mound type and the field is located very shallow so that a good portion of the wastewater soaks the turf and evaporates versus going down.
Could be worse, I had a friend that lived next to a marble orchard (cemetery) 
My co-workers parents lived in rural Georgia, used a well located about 60 feet downhill from the house. . They liked the good tasting well water. His mother however complained she had to walk down to the well and carry the water up to the house in a container every time she needed a batch. To remedy this situation, coworker took a week off from tech-work, flew to Georgia, and installed a pipe from the well to the house. Parent called him the next day after he returned to work: “This water tastes horrible now!!!” The problem was he used a plastic pipe. He offered to replace it with a steel pipe, but the parents said they just wanted the pipe removed, happy to carry the good-tasting water up the hill. So off he goes again to the parent’s house to remove the pipe … .lol …
My irrigation well is about 120 ft… but during the summer rains I swear you could hit water at 5 feet! The greater depth is so that the pump doesn’t run dry in the winter months even if we are behind on rain (like now).
Most of the septic systems (and wells) in the neighboring city (and some of my county, too) are 20 to 40 years old and, in my opinion, waaay to close to one another. We can detect coliform bacteria in some streams, creeks and the river. The municipal water and sewer was long overdue and residents are still complaining about the $25,000 to $35,000 assesments for hookups.
I’m on the coast, shallow wells used for irrigation hit “sulfur water”,
You can tell who uses that for irrigation, their fences turn orange. Much in the past, now most neighborhoods have reclaimed water available for irrigation.
Have to go much deeper for good water, if you’re lucky you will get to the aquifer.
I live in NJ, a very blue state. We demand quite a bit from our governments, and we pay high taxes in return. We complain about that, but realize it’s necessary. We have clean water, professional police departments, and some of the best school systems in the country.
Good for you and your state. But not ALL municipals are like that. For many - COST is the #1 factor. If they need to cut costs, then many time public safety is a second thought.
We do too, in a red state, paying 60% of what you pay.
The public schools there are lousy.
Not according to US News and World report
Yeah, 40 years is getting to end of life on just about any septic system. The corrosive gases eat away at the concrete and any metal.
There’s a big lake not far away that is virtually unusable due to septic at the old homes all around it. Many built back in the day using block and mortar. As you can imagine, they are one on top of another too and close to the edge of the lake.
It’s not just coliform, the “nutrients” allow for algae blooms and it has been found that inhaling those algae causes all kinds of health issues. Any boating kicks up water droplets that people inhale and it affects the homeowners as well as people on the lake. It’s closed to any use most of the summer and property is unsellable as everyone knows about it. Of course, they are moaning about the state bailing them out…
That has been a constant issue in my area. 3 years ago it made the beaches un-usable. Releases from lake O loaded with fertilizer runoff was the primary cause but recent smaller outbreaks are clearly septic issues, IMHO.
Same here, live a mile from the Indian River Lagoon, algae, fed by nutrient from septic tank and fertilizer runoff have created major algae blooms.
I used to stay in Cocoa Beach on business trips. When I’d go for a walk on the road nearest to and parallels the beach I’d often smell sulphur when homeowners were watering the lawn. I assumed it was well water since hy hotel water didn’t taste like sulphur.
I also took a ride up the coast the St. Augustine one weekend. I stopped at the Fountain of Youth for the tour and tasted water from the fountain. It was horrible sulphur tasting junk. The tour guide told us that Ponce de Leon declared it the finest water he ever tasted. Just imagine how foul the water was on his ship if he thought that putrid water tasted good.
Correct, hotel, and household water is supplied by waterworks operated by the City of Cocoa on the mainland. That water comes primarily from deep wells that draw from the aquifer with some surface (lake) water. Aquifer water was quite pure, but that too is becoming contaminated.
Cocoa supplied water tasted fine to me, until I got a refrigerator with a filter for the ice and chilled water.
Toyota had this problem with Mexico-made Tacomas. My 2004 4Runner made in Japan has no signs of rust anywhere.