None the less I recommend a yearly treatment. The goal is to kill all the bacteria that will make you sick. Generally these bacteria include e-coli and coliform but there are several others. The shock should kill the bacteria but having the well tested a week after a shock treatment is a good idea just in case.

How much does it cost to shock your well?

You can hire a company that services wells to do the chlorinating. The cost ranges from $80 – $200. You can also perform the task yourself. It simply consists of pouring diluted chlorine into the water, letting it sit for a while, and then flushing the chlorine out of the system.

Is shocking a well Necessary?

Shock chlorination is a method of disinfecting a water well. It is recommended when a water system is contaminated with bacteria. Contamination can occur when the well is installed, when repairs are made to the pump or plumbing, or when rainfall runoff enters the well.

How long do you have to run your water after shocking well?

Let the chlorinated water stand in the plumbing system for 12 to 24 hours. Do not run any water or flush toilets during this time.

Can I pour bleach down my well?

Mix 2 quarts bleach in 10 gallons of water; pour into well. Connect a garden hose to a nearby faucet and wash down the inside of the well. Open each faucet and let the water run until a strong chlorine odor is detected, then turn it off and go to the next one. … Pour it into the well without pumping.

Should you put Clorox in your well?

Disinfecting Your Water You can disinfect your well with household chlorine bleach such as Clorox, Purex or a generic brand. The chlorine in the bleach kills bacteria. Note that it may take more than one chlorination for your well to return a satisfactory test. … To disinfect your well follow this procedure.

How do I clean my well water at home?

Fill the bucket with clear water from the well. Add about 300g of HSCH and stir until dissolved. For every cubic metre (m3) of water in the well add 10 litres (half bucket) of the chlorine solution. Double the quantity of HSCH added if the solution is to be used for cleaning well linings or aprons.

Can you put chlorine tablets in a well?

Pool chlorine tablets can be used in wells. Ground wells require maintenance just as other household components and one of the most important tasks is disinfecting it. Disinfecting a ground well involves adding chlorine which kills bacteria and microscopic organisms living in the water.

How do you shock a residential well?

Overview. 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.

Can you put too much chlorine in a well?

Do not use excessive amounts of bleach – more is not more effective. 5) For best results the bleach should be combined with water before adding it to the well. [By reducing the concentration there is less chance of corrosion of the cables and pipes in the well.

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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.

How long does it take to smell chlorine after shocking well?

Turn on the spigot and let the water in the hose run for about 1/2 hour into the well. After the 1/2 hour, smell the water coming out of the hose; if it does not smell of chlorine, continue to let it run into the well and smell it every so often until the chlorine odor is present.

Can you put hydrogen peroxide in your well?

Hydrogen peroxide well water treatment for bacteria may not be as popular as other options for the treatment of bacteria-infested well water, but it is just as effective as, say, chlorination or shock treatment and, according to experts, is in fact safer.

How long does it take to flush bleach from a well?

Run the water to flush the bleach solution out of the well. Monitor the process, it can take 30 minutes to 24 hours or more to flush all of the bleach solution from the well.

Can you use pool shock in a well?

Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well. Don’t use stabilized swimming pool chlorine products or non-chlorinated “pool shock” products, as they are not effective enough to clean your drinking water.

How much water is in a well?

The typical 6-inch diameter well will hold approximately 1.5 gallons of water per foot of casing. The height of the water above the pump when it is not operating, multiplied by the gallons of water per foot of casing approximates the amount of available storage within the well casing.

Can you get sick from drinking well water?

Health Risks Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and even death sometimes. Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick or die from disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water.

What maintenance is needed for a 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.

Does well water need to be chlorinated?

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.

How often should you chlorinate your well?

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.

Why is my water yellow after shocking well?

Bio-fouling by iron bacteria The most common methods to rehabilitate a private water well are: acids or chlorine to dissolve the encrusting materials and bacterial slime from the well. This produces the brown water observed in a newly chorine shocked well.

What happens when you shock your well?

To shock chlorinate, you add a concentrated chlorine solution to the water in the well casing (material that supports the sides of the well). Some of this water will move outside the well and into the aquifer. Then you flush the chlorinated water through the system and let it sit for a certain amount of time.

Why does my pool water turn brown when I add chlorine?

Using Fill Water From a Well Wells are commonly known to be one of the greatest sources of metals in a swimming pool, especially copper and iron. Iron reacts with chlorine to form iron III chloride, which is reddish in color. This is why your pool may turn to brown or rusty color when chlorine is added.

How do I fix my smelly well water?

1. Aerate water and/or inject air or oxygen.
2. Chlorinate well water to eliminate both sulfur and bacteria.
3. Use ozone gas in a closed tank or atmospheric tank.
4. Inject hydrogen peroxide.

How do I get the sulfur smell out of my well?

Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Often keeps odors away for 1 – 2 months. 2. Chlorinator: Install a chlorine injector system (chlorinator) on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running.

Why is my well water smell like rotten eggs?

If your water smells like rotten eggs, that likely indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. This could be due to a problem with your water heater or naturally occurring sulfur bacteria, especially in well water. These issues can produce hydrogen sulfide, which leaves an unpleasant scent wherever it goes.

How do I add oxygen to my well water?

You can add oxygen to your tank by slowly pouring water into it from some height above. The water will pick up air en route as well as drive oxygen into the tank water. How much oxygen is added depends on how high above the tank you pour the water and how many times you repeat this procedure.