Flush the well using a garden hose that is connected to the water supply being disinfected. Allow the water to run through the garden hose until you can no longer detect a chlorine smell. If the well is low yielding or tends to pump sediment (sand or fine particles), you should flush it slowly.
Generally, cleaning your well can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. For example, a shallow well with no significant issues may only cost around $500 to $1,000 to clean.
Chlorination disinfects your well by destroying unhealthy bacteria and microorganisms and removing dissolved iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. It can be managed easily at home with common household bleach and food grade white vinegar.
Depending on the size and depth of the well and extent of contamination, pumping times will vary; it may take thirty minutes, or it could take several hours or days until the water runs clear.
Rinse the inside of the well casing with a garden hose or bucket for 5-10 minutes. Open all faucets inside the home and run the water until you notice a strong odor of chlorine (bleach) at each faucet. Turn off all faucets and allow the solution to remain in the well and plumbing for a minimum of 12 hours.
Over time, sediment, minerals, bacteria, and other contaminants can accumulate in the well, affecting water quality and reducing the well's efficiency. Flushing the well involves pumping out a large volume of water to remove any accumulated debris or contaminants.
Very few wells will need more than one gallon of bleach. Using more bleach than necessary will not disinfect the water faster, may cause corrosion of the steel casing and will hinder the disinfection effectiveness. To calculate the amount of bleach needed, you need to know the well's depth and static water level.
An annual well maintenance check, including a bacterial test, is recommended. Any source of drinking water should be checked any time there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime a water supply system is serviced.
Overall, hydrogen peroxide is more expensive than chlorine and works best when iron and sulfur are present in the water supply. Since it works faster than chlorine, no contact tank is required. Additionally, H2O2 is effective at a more comprehensive pH range, meaning that it is more effective on more types of water.
To gain peace of mind about the quality of your well's drinking water and have your well shock chlorinated by a professional, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $200 depending on your well depth, the type of well, labor, and more.
Purge the Well
Once the well is safe and operational, it should be purged. This is a simple step, where the nearest outside faucet is used to flush the water from the well until it runs clear. Be sure that the purged water is discharged such that the contaminated water will not flow back into the well.
How Often Should I Shock My Well? It depends on the level of contamination. Generally, it should be done annually or when bacteria are detected. Since you can't see, smell, or taste bacteria in your water, you'll need to test your well water often.
IS MY WELL JUST OLD? Another problem can be well age. A well's lifespan is considered to be roughly 20 to 30 years.
What is shocking a well? Shock chlorination is a relatively inexpensive and straightforward procedure used to control bacteria in wells. It involves adding a large amount of chlorine to the water in the well and pumping it through the water distribution system.
No water bill: You can use as much water as you'd like and never have to worry about a bill when using a private well. The only reason you'd pay is if you're using city water for wastewater (such as showering, flushing the toilet, etc…), although you can install a septic tank to avoid these costs.
In a study testing the effects of various mold-killers, hydrogen peroxide was found to be moderately effective at killing mold on nonporous surfaces, albeit less potently than bleach.
Rubbing alcohol is more of a chemical solvent. Hydrogen peroxide is a nonchlorinated oxidizing bleach. Both will kill bacteria. If using either on a fresh wound, peroxide should only be used once for the initial cleaning.
Mix one gallon of regular unscented liquid bleach with the four gallons of water. Note: Liquid bleach should not be used with a steel well casing; it can break loose accumulated corrosion and cause pump failure.
Every well is different as far as how long it takes to clear. Some wells need only a few minutes, others can take days before it is back to normal. Very occasionally, intervention is needed, like a cartridge filter.
How Much Does a Well Inspection Cost? An average well inspection ranges from $300 to $500. This depends on the inspector's rates as well as the type of water tests they intend to conduct to check water quality. It also depends on whether they provide a septic inspection as well.
Natural Salts and Minerals. It should go without saying that, because well water comes from underground supplies, it is rich in many different minerals, including natural salts, calcium, iron and other minerals that will build up on the system. As minerals and salts build up, they obstruct the entire system gradually.
Mix two more quarts of bleach in 10 gallons of water. Use about half a gallon of the mixture to rinse and disinfect the well cap (and seal if there is one). Turn off the electric power to the well pump. Pour the remaining mixture into the well.
Once you have shocked a well, avoid bathing or doing laundry for at least 24 hours, if not longer. The amount of bleach needed to shock a well depends on the size of your well.