What is a chlorinator for well water?

Author: Estelle Dietrich  |  Last update: Sunday, June 26, 2022

A dry pellet chlorinator is a device that mounts on the well and drops a compressed chlorine tablet down the well shaft into the well water. It is wired into the pump's electrical circuit and run whenever the pump is pumping water, metering chlorine in proportion to water usage.

Do I need a chlorinator for well water?

Well water doesn't go through a water treatment plant like municipal water. That means it might contain contaminants like volatile organic compounds, coliform bacteria, lead, and other toxins. Municipal sources disinfect their water with chlorine, so you need well water chlorination to fill that role.

What does a chlorinator do for a well?

Well Water Chlorinators – Popular and Low Cost Disinfection for Home Water Well Systems. Small chlorination systems continue to be a low cost and popular way for homeowners to disinfect their well water of bacteria, eliminate odor and oxidize iron and manganese.

How much does a chlorinator cost?

A Salt Water Chlorinator usually costs anywhere from $800 - $1500 for a decent model, which will also rely on the size of your pool.

Is well water treated with chlorine?

Is Well Water Good for You? Private well owners do not have their water treated with chlorine or chloramines from the local water utility company. Because well water is not treated with chemicals designed to deal with organic contaminants, well water carries a higher risk of bacterial or viral infection.

How to Set Up J-PRO-22 Proportional Feed Chlorinator / Peroxide System for Well Water

How often does a well need to be chlorinated?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria. If these tests turn up positive for bacteria, chlorinating the well may be a way to resolve the problem.

Is it safe to drink well water with chlorine in it?

Is chlorinated water safe to drink? Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits the amount of chlorine in drinking water to levels that are safe for human consumption. The levels of chlorine used for drinking water disinfection are unlikely to cause long-term health effects.

How long should you wait to drink water after you chlorinate a well?

Once the chlorinated water has reached all the appliances, fixtures and faucets, let the chlorinated water stand in the well and plumbing system for 8 hours. WHILE THE CHLORINE IS IN THE SYSTEM DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. CONTACT WITH THE WATER MAY CAUSE SKIN, EYE AND NOSE IRRITATION.

Why does my well water turn brown when I add bleach?

The brown is the iron in the water that has oxidized as a result of the chlorination. Normally, the iron in water is in ion form and does not display itself until it combines with oxygen and forms common rust which turns the water reddish-brown.

Should I pour bleach in my well?

Bleach should not be put into the well straight from the bottle. The general recommendation is to dilute the laundry bleach 1:100, (one gallon of bleach to 100 gallons or water; half a gallon of bleach to 50 gallons of water; a quart of bleach to 25 gallons of water.)

How often should a well be cleaned?

9. As a routine maintenance practice, clean your well at least once a year. If you have an iron or sulfur bacteria problem, clean more often.

How do I chlorinate my well?

Use ordinary liquid laundry bleach to shock chlorinate the water system. Determine how much bleach to use, then pour the bleach down the well and circulate it through the whole water distribution system. Wait 6-12 hours for the chlorine to work, then flush the chlorinated water from your well and pipes.

How can I naturally purify my well water?

Liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach and food grade white vinegar can be used to disinfect your well. When chlorine is added to water the pH level will rise. Food grade white vinegar is used to lower the water's pH level so the chlorine will work effectively.

Should I shock my well?

Wells should be shock chlorinated when a well water sample result shows that there is bacteria in the water. Any time a well is opened for repair it must be disinfected. Newly-built wells should also be shock chlorinated following construction.

Can you use Clorox to disinfect a well?

You can disinfect your well with household chlorine bleach, such as Javex®. Use fresh chlorine bleach to ensure an effective disinfection of the well. Chlorine can evaporate and lose half of its strength in 6 months.

How many chlorine tablets should I put in my well?

Drop the proper number of pool chlorine tablets into the well. For a 10-foot well use 2 tsp. of a chlorine tablet, for a 20-foot well use 1 1/2 tbsp. of a chlorine tablet, for a 40-foot well use 3 tbsp.

Is well water safe to drink?

Typically, groundwater is naturally clean and safe to drink. Because the soil on top acts as a filter, groundwater is usually free of micro-organisms that may cause disease. However, groundwater can become contaminated if the casings or caps for wells are not installed in the correct way.

How do I know if my well is bad?

The 7 warning signs associated with water well problems:
  1. The well is pumping air, and well yield is reduced.
  2. The well is pumping sand or large amounts of sediment.
  3. Water pressure is low (pressure tank symptoms)
  4. The power bill has skyrocketed.
  5. Water quality has changed.
  6. Dissolved gasses or bubbles and air in well water.

How do I maintain my well?

Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil away from your well. Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair. Always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage facilities.

How long will a well last?

The average lifespan for a well is 30–50 years. 2. How deep is the well? Drilled wells typically go down 100 feet or more.

How much Clorox do you put in a well?

CALCULATE AND POUR: Pour 3 pints of chlorine bleach per 100 gallons of water plus an additional 3 pints into your well as described above. MIX: Attach a clean garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well.

How do you flush sediment out of a well?

How to Remove Sediment From Well & Spring Water
  1. Spin-down filter strainers.
  2. Cartridge filter systems.
  3. Backwashing media filters.
  4. Ultra-Filtration (UF) membrane systems.

Why is there silt in my well water?

A cartridge sediment filter clogged with iron sediment (with permission by MWON volunteer Jane Schiferle). Sediment in well water can be caused by silt, sand or clay mobilized by heavy spring rainfall or nearby soil disturbance.

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