How long after shocking a well can you drink the water?

Wait one to two weeks after shock chlorinating the water supply system to retest for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. Follow sample collection instructions carefully. If the test results show the absence of coliform bacteria, the water is safe to drink.

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

Run the water out of the hose for about 10 minutes in an area away from the well, septic system, landscaping, and bodies of water. The water may be discolored.

What to do after well is shocked?

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. Retest the water after 2-3 days.

Can you flush a toilet after shocking a 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 you shower in bleach well water?

Keep in mind that doing laundry and taking a shower cannot be done for at least 24 hours with a chlorinated well. Waiting a few days to do these is a good idea. We recommend using unscented bleach for this process and using a chlorine test kit from your local supply store.

How to Disinfect Your Well

What happens if you put too much bleach in well?

According to AskingLot, if you put too much bleach in your well, it can destroy the good bacteria found in the well, which can be a significant problem! The company also says that you should dilute the bleach with water so the pipes do not get ruined.

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 often should a well be shocked?

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.

How long does it take to shock a well?

It will usually take 4 to 8 hours to flush the well after a standard well chlorination. The water may become discolored during flushing because the chlorine may have loosened the hard water deposits in the plumbing.

Will shocking a well get rid of coliform?

When done properly, shock chlorination will kill all the bacteria existing in a well. A recent Penn State study of wells contaminated by coliform bacteria found that shock chlorination and installation of a sanitary well cap successfully removed the bacteria for one year in 15 percent of the wells.

Does shocking a well work?

Although shock chlorination will sanitize wells, it may temporarily increase the arsenic levels of water in areas where aquifer sediments contain high levels of arsenic (WDNR, 2008).

How do you make well water taste better?

You can help remove smells and taste by adding powdered activated carbon (GAC) to water or using granular activated carbon to make the water filter. Usually, powdered activated carbon (PAC) is better when the taste and odor aren't too strong or infrequent.

What does it mean when your well water turns brown?

If your area has received more rainfall than usual, brown well water can result from rusty plumbing, rainwater runoff contamination, or septic cross-contamination.

How much bleach do I use to shock my well water?

Add 1 litre (1 quart) of household bleach for every 1.5 metres (5 feet) of depth of water.

How long does it take to treat a well?

Allow chlorinated water to stand in the well and pipes for at least 8 hours (preferably 12 to 24 hours). Run water from outdoor faucets to waste (away from desirable vegetation) until the chlorine odor is slight or not detected at each faucet. Then run indoor faucets until there is no chlorine odor.

How often should you clean your well?

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.

Should you put bleach 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.

How common is coliform in well water?

Coliform bacteria are one of the most common water contamination problems in private water systems in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. A 2006 survey of 450 private wells found coliform bacteria in approximately 35 percent and E. coli bacteria in about 15 percent of private wells.

How do you get rid of the smell of well water?

Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.

Is it OK to have coliform in well water?

Most coliform bacteria are not harmful. However, some can make you sick. A person that has been exposed to these bacteria may have an upset stomach, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea. Children and the elderly are more at risk from these bacteria.

What causes diarrhea in well water?

While most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, their presence suggests there may be disease-causing microorganisms in your water. These microorganisms can cause diarrheas, dysenteries, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis.

Should I put chlorine tablets in my well?

the well has been flooded or exposed to bacterial contamination in another manner, such as a crack in the well cap. Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well.

How do you keep whites white with well water?

There are a couple of alternatives to get your whites white. Wash your whites with regular detergent, add 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide or a scoop of borax to each load, and line dry them in the sun. You can also purchase a product called Iron Out and add it to the rinse cycle after using bleach.

Why is my well water yellow all of a sudden?

One of the possibilities of yellow well water could be oxidation of iron in the water. This usually occurs when surrounding rocks and soils in the aquifer feeding the well has high concentrations of iron. The other reason for discoloration of well water is the presence of high levels of tannic acid in the water.

How do you fix GREY well water?

You can try using chlorine but often the best and lowest cost approach is to inject hydrogen peroxide and then filter with catalytic carbon, and after that, a 25/1 micron dual grade filter. The peroxide destroys the odors and the filters remove the sulfides and any residual peroxide and odors.