Shock chlorination is the most effective way to eliminate these bacteria. 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. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great.
By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Know when you need to chlorinate your well. It is a good idea to chlorinate your well at least once a year, preferably in the spring.
Outside of that, there are several other circumstances under which chlorinating your well becomes necessary: [2] X Research source If your annual water test results show that bacteria is present. If you notice a change in the color, smell or taste of your drinking water, you should test for bacteria and will need to chlorinate the water if the test comes up positive.
You should also determine the water constituent that caused the change in water quality and take measures to treat the water to remove anything unpleasant or unsafe.
Your local environmental agency will be able to provide direction in this endeavor. If the well is new, or has recently undergone repairs, or new pipes have been added. If the well has been contaminated by flood water, or if the water turns muddy or cloudy after a rainfall. When you are preparing to abandon the well or if it is a well that is new to you. Gather the necessary supplies.
Chlorine: Obviously you will need chlorine in order to chlorinate your well. Just be sure to use an unscented variety. You may need up to 10 gallons Chlorine test kit: A chlorine test kit can be used to precisely measure chlorine levels in the water, rather than relying on scent alone. These test kits are usually used for swimming pools and can be found at any pool or spa supply store.
Make sure to get OTO liquid drops instead of the paper strips, as the paper strips only indicate chlorine levels in the range that is ideal for swimming pools. Garden hose: To recirculate the water in the well, you will need a clean garden hose.
If you can get the larger hose through the wellhead casing and past the wiring and piping, it may be a better option, as it will provide a larger flow of water. You should cut the male end of the hose at a steep angle.
Calculate the volume of the well. In order to determine how much bleach you will need to adequately disinfect your well, you will need to calculate the volume of water it contains. To do this, you will need to multiply the depth of the water column in feet by the gallons per linear foot for your well.
This depends on the diameter of the well or casing in inches. First, shut off all power for the wellhead at the breaker. Remove the well cap or access the wellhead through the venting opening. Use a strong flashlight to inspect down the casing. Using a fishing line and a moderately heavy weight, drop the line into the water.
The line will remain taut until the weight hits the bottom, at which time it will go limp. Once this happens, retrieve the line and measure the wet portion of the string with a tape measure. You can also mark the line at the top of the well casing and measure the total depth of the well, then subtract the distance from the top of the casing to the surface of the water within the well. This can be found by tying a short stick securely to the line, lowering the stick into the well, marking the line when it goes slack, and measuring the length of the line from the stick to your mark.
Alternatively, a rough measurement should be stamped on a plate affixed to the slab poured around the well casing or you can contact the drilling company who constructed the well. They are required to keep records on all of the wells they've worked on in most jurisdictions. The number of gallons per linear foot is related to the diameter of the well casing. This number should appear on the well log. Drilled wells will usually have a diameter between 4 and 10 inches, whereas bored wells range between 12 and Once you know the diameter of your well, you can use this table to figure out the gallons per linear foot of water within your well.
Plan to perform the disinfection process when faucets and toilets will not be in use for at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 24 hours. Shock chlorination will be most effective if the chlorine reaches every part of the water system. Special precautions are needed on automatic water systems for animals and irrigation. Provide alternate water sources for pets or livestock who depend on automatic waterers, then make sure the chlorine reaches those outlets.
Chlorinated water flushed out of a sprinkler or drip system should be directed away from landscaping plants and lawn areas to avoid damage to the plants. Most water treatment equipment such as water heaters, softeners, and pressure tanks , should also be disinfected.
Some water filters, such as carbon filters, should be temporarily disconnected or by-passed during shock chlorination. Check owner's manuals or manufacturers' literature before shock chlorinating to avoid damage to components. Use liquid household bleach containing 5. Do not use bleach with a "fresh scent," lemon fragrance, or other cleaners added. One gallon of bleach will treat up to an 8-inch diameter well containing feet of water. If your well is much larger, or if your distribution system is unusually large, expect to use more than 1 gallon of bleach.
Avoid direct skin contact with bleach solutions. A licensed well driller is trained to shock chlorinate. Should you decide to shock chlorinate your well yourself, take the following precautionary measures:. Wait one to two weeks after shock chlorinating the water supply system to retest for total coliform and E. Follow sample collection instructions carefully. If the test results show the absence of coliform bacteria, the water is safe to drink.
When using ordinary laundry bleach, 3 pints should be added for every gallons of water in the well. To determine the amount of standing water in your well, follow the steps below. If the depth of the water in the well is unknown, use a volume of bleach equal to two times the ft water depth for the appropriate casing diameter.
For example, an 8-inch casing diameter with ft water depth would require 1.
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