How often should you shock your well water?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria.

How often can I shock my well?

So, how often should you shock a well? If you have performed a water test that has come back positive for coliform bacteria, then it's time to chlorinate your well. If you haven't tested your well in a few years, it's a good idea to test your water.

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 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.

Should you shock a well every year?

Shock chlorination is recommended: upon completion of a new well or when an unused well is returned to service. if annual water test results indicate the presence of bacteria. if a well system is opened for any installation, repair or maintenance.

How to Disinfect Your Well

How often should you chlorinate well?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria.

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.

Can I shower after shocking well?

Do not shower for at least 24 hours after shocking your well. Waiting for one or two days more, if possible, is much better. Chlorine levels in the well water will go down only after freshwater dilutes and replaces chlorinated water. This process can take 1-2 days.

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.

Can I shock my well myself?

You can shock chlorinate your own well or you can hire a licensed water well driller to do the procedure. If you notice a build-up of slime inside your toilet tank, staining of fixtures and laundry, bad taste and a rotten- egg smell, or if your well is producing less water, you may have a condition called biofouling.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Can I put Clorox bleach in my well?

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 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.

Is it good to put bleach in your 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. Don't use scented bleach, to avoid adding extra chemicals to your water.

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.

Can a plumber shock a well?

A: The shocking (disinfection) of a well and plumbing system destroys any possibility of bacterial contamination to be present in the system. This process will only kill bacteria present in the system at the time of disinfection and is not designed for an ongoing contamination problem.

How much does it cost to chlorinate a well?

To disinfect your well and eliminate the bacteria, you should chlorinate the 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.

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 long does it take to chlorinate a well?

A very shallow well can flush in as little as 30 minutes, while deep wells can take up to 24 hours. During shock chlorination, the chlorine will also pass through a home's entire plumbing system.

What is the life expectancy of a water well?

A well can last 50 years (I know of one well that did). However, a drop or complete loss of water production from a well can sometimes occur even in relatively young wells due to a lowered water level from persistent drought, nearby development, or over-pumping of the well which can dewater the water-bearing zones.