A significant number of residential properties in Polk and Hillsborough County run their irrigation from private wells or lake and pond draw systems rather than city or county water utilities. This is particularly common in Plant City, Auburndale, the rural residential areas of eastern Hillsborough County, and lakefront properties throughout Polk County.
Well-based and lake-draw irrigation systems work differently from utility-fed systems, require different service approaches, and carry specific compliance requirements that utility customers do not face. This guide covers what Florida homeowners with these systems need to know.
How Well-Based Irrigation Works
A private well irrigation system uses a submersible or surface-mounted pump to draw water from the aquifer beneath your property, pressurize it, and deliver it to your irrigation system. The system includes three primary components: the pump, the pressure tank, and the controller and valve system that is otherwise identical to a utility-fed system.
The Pump
Submersible pumps sit inside the well casing below the water table. Surface or jet pumps draw water from a shallow aquifer and are mounted above ground. Submersible pumps are more common for residential irrigation in Central Florida due to the aquifer depth in most areas.
The Pressure Tank
The pressure tank stores pressurized water so the pump does not have to cycle on for every small draw. It contains a rubber bladder that separates the pressurized air side from the water side. When the bladder fails, the tank waterloggs — it fills completely with water, the air charge is lost, and the pump begins rapid cycling (switching on and off every few seconds) to maintain pressure.
The Aquifer Source
Most Central Florida residential wells draw from the Upper Floridan Aquifer — a limestone formation that underlies most of the state. Polk County has historically had excellent aquifer access. During drought conditions and high regional demand periods, aquifer levels decline and some wells experience reduced yield or draw-down, where the pump temporarily outpaces the aquifer’s ability to recharge the well.
Upper Floridan Aquifer
The Upper Floridan Aquifer is one of the most productive aquifer systems in the world, supplying approximately 62 percent of Florida’s total freshwater use. However, prolonged drought periods — which trigger SWFWMD phase declarations — reduce aquifer pressure and can affect well yield across the region.
Lake-Draw Irrigation Systems
Properties adjacent to lakes, ponds, or retention areas — common throughout Polk County’s lake-dense landscape and along Hillsborough County’s rural corridors — sometimes use surface water draw systems. A submersible pump is placed in the lake or pond and draws surface water for irrigation use.
Lake-draw systems have their own service considerations:
- Pump depth adjustment: As lake levels drop seasonally, the pump may need to be repositioned lower to maintain intake below the water surface
- Screen and filter maintenance: Surface water carries debris, algae, and sediment that can clog nozzles and filters more quickly than groundwater
- Lake level sensitivity: During drought, lake levels drop. If the pump’s intake rises above the water surface, the pump runs dry — which burns the pump motor within minutes
- Dry-run protection: A dry-run protection switch shuts the pump off when it detects no water at the intake. This is a critical safety feature for lake-draw systems
Common Well and Lake-Draw System Problems
Rapid pump cycling (short cycling)
If your pump switches on and off every few seconds rather than running for 30 to 60 seconds between cycles, the pressure tank has waterlogged. The bladder has failed, the air charge is gone, and the tank can no longer maintain pressure between pump activations. Short cycling is extremely hard on pump motors — the repeated start current draw causes excessive heat and wear. This should be addressed promptly to avoid pump motor failure.
Low pressure across all zones
System-wide low pressure on a well system can indicate a pump that is losing output capacity, a pressure tank that is undersized for the system’s demand, or aquifer draw-down during drought periods. Zone-specific low pressure more likely indicates a valve or pipe issue, same as a utility system.
Air in the system (sputtering heads)
Heads that sputter, spit air, and deliver inconsistent spray are often signs of a well pump that is running at or near its draw-down point — pulling air along with water as the aquifer level around the casing drops. This can also indicate a failing foot valve that allows air into the suction line.
Pump runs but no output
A pump motor that runs but delivers no water pressure usually indicates a failed impeller, a broken pump shaft, or on lake-draw systems, an intake that has risen above the water level. This requires pump removal and inspection to assess.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Pump cycles every few seconds | Waterlogged pressure tank | Service soon — pump motor at risk |
| Low pressure all zones | Pump output or tank sizing | Service — system underperforming |
| Heads sputter and spit air | Draw-down or foot valve failure | Service — investigate water source |
| Pump runs, no water | Impeller failure or dry intake | Immediate — pump damage accumulates |
| Pump runs continuously | Pressure switch failure | Service — excessive wear |
SWFWMD Restrictions Apply to Wells Too
This is the most common misconception among well-based irrigation users: the belief that their private well is not subject to SWFWMD water restriction phases. This is incorrect. SWFWMD Phase III applies to all irrigation water sources — including private wells, lake-draw systems, and reclaimed water — within the district boundaries.
Your designated watering day is the same as for utility customers, determined by the last digit of your street address. The reasoning: the restrictions are intended to reduce total regional aquifer demand during drought conditions. A private well drawing from the same Upper Floridan Aquifer that supplies regional utilities is subject to the same limitations.
Annual Maintenance for Well Systems
Well and lake-draw systems benefit from annual professional review in addition to the standard irrigation inspection. Key items for annual assessment:
- Pressure tank pressure check and bladder condition assessment
- Pump amperage draw measurement — increased amp draw indicates a motor working harder than designed
- Pressure switch setting verification
- Dry-run protection function test
- Flow rate measurement to assess well yield vs. system demand
- Filter and screen condition on lake-draw systems
An annual review catches the slow deterioration patterns — a pump gradually pulling more current, a pressure tank that is taking longer to cycle — before they become sudden failures. Well pump failures in the middle of summer dry season are the most painful time to need an emergency repair and wait for parts.