How often should a water 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 do I know if my well needs to be shocked?

How long should I shock my well?

Pour it into the well without pumping. 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.

How long does it take for water to clear after shocking 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. Caution: The chlorine must be completely flushed from plumbing system.

Why should I shock my well?

Chlorinating your well, also known as shock chlorination, kills bacteria and disease-causing organisms that can enter your well. This can happen after a flood or period of heavy rain, which causes surface water to enter your well or can just naturally occur over a period of time.

How to Disinfect Your Well

How much does it cost to shock your well?

In the United States, it costs between $60 and $100 to complete a shocking well. Depending on where you live, the cast will differ. If possible, you can reduce the expense using your own method. Gloves and a safe bucket are needed for chlorine use.

Does shocking a well work?

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 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.

Can you put too much chlorine in a well?

Clear chlorine from the well by running an outside hose to the ground surface. Then run clear water through the faucets until the water no longer smells of chlorine. Avoid putting too much chlorine into the septic system, too much chlorine may kill the bacteria needed for septic decomposition.

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.

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.

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.

Does shocking a well help with iron?

With shock chlorination, the entire system (from the water-bearing formation, through the well bore and the distribution system) is exposed to water that has a concentration of chlorine strong enough to kill iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria.

How do you shock a residential 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.

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 much bleach is needed to shock 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.

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.

What are the symptoms of too much chlorine?

What is a natural way to clean well water?

You can boil the well water for 5 minutes. With this, all the bacteria inside it will be eliminated. However, boiling will not be able to remove the solids and other materials inside the well water. The use of chlorine drops or iodine tablets can effectively kill the bacteria in the well 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.

Should I treat my well water?

Treatment is needed if your water has a bad taste or smell or is excessively corrosive. If your answer is yes, then you must seek water treatment equipment to soften the water to make it easier to treat efficiently.

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 I know if I have iron bacteria in my well?

How do I know if I have iron bacteria in my well water?

Some of the more common tastes and odors that you'll notice when iron bacteria are in your water include: A rotten egg smell. A sewage-like odor. A swampy odor.

How can you tell if your well water is bad?