Using a 5-gallon bucket, mix the bleach from Table 2 with 3-5 gallons of water (12-19 liters). Add the bleach water mixture to the well. Avoid all electrical connections. Attach a clean hose to an outside faucet and use it to circulate water back into the well for thorough mixing.
Shock chlorination is the process by which home water systems such as wells, springs, and cisterns are disinfected using household liquid bleach (or chlo- rine). Shock chlorination is the most widely recommended means of treating bacterial contamination in home water systems.
What is used to disinfect a water well? Chlorine compounds are most commonly used as a disinfection agent in water wells. However, NGWA does not recommend that household bleach be used to chlorinate a water well, in part, because: It is not made for use in drinking water.
Chlorination is effective for getting rid of a one-time case of bacterial contamination.
Blue Dawn and white vinegar. I fill an empty spray bottle with about 1/2 cup of dish soap and then top it off with vinegar. (PS This also works equally well for killing weeds. Go figure.)
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.
We recommend using a UV light filter to make well water safe to drink. This type of filter is safe, economical, and easy to maintain. With a UV sterilizer, you can remove 99.99% of the bacteria, viruses, and other microbes in your well water. This system will work 24/7 for consistently clean and safe drinking water.
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.
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.
Test your water for bacteria within 1 week after cleaning and again in 2 weeks if water is found to be unsafe. 9. As a routine maintenance practice, clean your well at least once a year.
The simplest and one of the more effective ways to disinfect well equipment and the well water is to use a chlorine solution. The oxidizing action of the chlorine solution kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa and some protozoal cysts.
Some of the most common precautions include periodically shock treating the well and your plumbing system with bleach/chlorine, ensuring that the well is properly capped and sealed, and keeping potential bacteria sources like septic fields and animals as far away from your water source as possible.
Unopened, unscented household chlorine bleach with no additives, manufactured within six months of use. The label will say the active ingredient is 6 or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do NOT use swimming pool or hot tub disinfectants as they typically contain algicides and fungicides.
To shock chlorinate, you add a concentrated chlorine solution to the water in your well casing (material that supports the sides of the well). Some of this water will move outside your well and into the aquifer. Then you flush the chlorinated water through the system and let it sit for a certain amount of time.
You can either treat your well with shock chlorination or get a chlorine injection system. A chlorine injection system is like your own private water tower for your well. It takes the well water, runs it through a tank where it's shocked with chlorine and then filters the excess chlorine out.
If you plan to use liquid chlorine, for example, a well 5 feet in diameter would require 4-1/2 cups of bleach per foot of water. If the well is 30 feet deep, multiply 4-1/2 by 30 to determine the total cups of bleach required (4-1/2 X 30 = 135); 135 cups = 8.44 gallons (16 cups = 1 gallon). Use 8.44 gallons.
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.
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.
You can use specially designed well-chlorination tablets or even unscented household bleach for this process. During the shock process you'll want to monitor the chlorine concentration – your goal is to reach 200 milligrams of chlorine per liter of water.
- Have your well water tested to determine if bacteria is present. - Install a water filtration system, such as UV or RO systems to remove bacteria. - Regularly maintain the well and surrounding area, including cleaning and disinfecting it. - Test the water regularly to ensure it is free from harmful bacteria.
Is Brita good for well water? The Brita pitcher is not an ideal solution for well water. While it can remove some well water contaminants, such as VOCs, herbicides, and pesticides thanks to its included activated carbon, but it is not effective against microbial contamination.
At least once a year as preventative maintenance, even if no problems have been observed or no repairs to the well, pump, or distribution system have been made. Wells with iron and sulfur bacteria may require frequent disinfection with higher chlorine levels to keep growths under control.
If your well is very deep, it may take a long time for the bleach to reach the taps. Let the bleach mixture sit in the well and pipes for at least 6 hours, or overnight if possible. Do not drink this water. After the waiting time has passed, turn on the electricity to the pump.