How to Clean Well Water Systems
Cleaning your well water system is necessary to purge your well system of harmful bacterias and minerals such as iron and sulfates. Cleaning your well system is a time-consuming procedure. Cleaning your system requires a process known as chlorination. Once you have completed the task, you'll need to test your water to verify that it is free of bacteria, as well as chlorine.
Instructions
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Use gloves and goggles to protect eyes and hands. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and goggles. Dilute your bleach. For every 1 cup of bleach that is used, mix the bleach with 12 cups of water. You'll need at least 1 gallon of bleach to thoroughly flush out a well system.
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Determine what type of well system you have. Check to see if your well contains a sanitary seal or if your well is dug directly into the ground. Remove the air vent if your well contains a sanitary seal. If your well is dug into the ground, you can remove the cover that is placed over your well.
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Be careful when pouring the bleach. Take your bleach solution and gently pour the solution into your well system. Take care when pouring the solution so as to not splash any bleach onto your skin.
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Use an outdoor hose. Take a hose from your outdoor faucet, and place the hose into your well casing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should run the hose until you can smell chlorine emanating from the hose.
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Turn on all working faucets. Turn on all indoor and outdoor faucets. Leave your faucets on until the odor of chlorine can be smelled. Once you smell chlorine, turn all faucets off.
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Let the hose run. Wait one full day prior to turning your faucets back on. Take an outdoor hose and pull it away from any outdoor vegetation or waterways (such as streams or lakes). Turn the hose on for at least two hours, or until the smell of chlorine disappears.
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Test your water. Turn all your faucets on in your home until chlorine smell vanishes. Test your home for bacteria and chlorine at least one week after completing the chlorination process.
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Tips & Warnings
According to the University of Minnesota, use a household bleach that contains at least 5.25 percent of hypochlorite.
If your well system contains a water treatment system, turn the water treatment system over to bypass prior to chlorinating your well system.
Use bottled water to drink and cook with during the chlorination process.
Chlorinate your well water system at least once a year.
Don't use bleach that is scented.
Don't drink, bathe or cook with your well water during the chlorination process.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit well image by Karel Pool from Fotolia.com rubber gloves image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com well image by Gudellaphoto from Fotolia.com cleaning mailbox 2. image by mdb from Fotolia.com Outside Hose image by Janet Wall from Fotolia.com faucet image by Laura Dynan from Fotolia.com running water hose image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com Test Kit image by Cinneman from Fotolia.com
