Table of Contents
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.
How long should you run the 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. Continue monitoring and running the water until it runs clear.
How long should you wait to drink water after you chlorinate a well?
Step 6 WAIT at least 12 hours before turning faucets back on. Do not drink, cook, bathe, or wash with water from your faucets during this time because it has high amounts of chlorine in it.
How long does water stay brown after shock?
The chlorine used to shock the well reacts with iron, manganese and reducing bacteria in the well and it is pulled into the water chlorine solution. That is the brown you see. Flushing the well by running the hoses for at least 12 hours or upto several day will clear up the problem.
What to do after you shock a well?
Turn the pump circuit breaker off and remove the well cap or cover. Then scrub the accessible interior surface with strong chlorine solution (1/2 gallon chlorine bleach per 5 gallons clean water). If the well does not have a sanitary cap in good condition it must be replaced with a new one to avoid recontamination.
How long does it take to smell chlorine after shocking 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 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.
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 should I shock my 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.
Why did my well water turn brown all of a sudden?
Iron and manganese, rust, silt, tannins, and the well itself can be the cause why well water suddenly turns brown. While water discoloration can be a problem, there is no need to immediately hire the services of a plumber. It can be contaminated with rust which causes it to turn brown.
Why does my water turn black when I add bleach?
Oxidized forms of manganese usually remain dissolved in water, giving it a black tint. In rare occasions, the addition of laundry bleach to manganese-rich water may turn the water purple due to the formation of permanganate ions.
How do I find out how much water is in my well?
To determine the amount, you must measure the depth to water and the total well depth. Subtracting the depth to water from total well depth will give you length of the water column. Multiply the length of water column in feet by the gallon volume per given diameter.
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.
How much bleach does it take to shock a well?
4) Work out how much bleach will be needed: For every 50 gallons of water in the well use one quart of laundry bleach – (4 quarts in a gallon). Do not use excessive amounts of bleach – more is not more effective.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?
Hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) can give water a “rotten egg” taste or odor. This gas can occur in wells anywhere and be: Naturally occurring – a result of decay and chemical reactions with soil and rocks. Produced by certain “sulfur bacteria” in the groundwater, well, or plumbing system.
How do you treat a deep well water?
Pour 3 pints of bleach into your well for every 100 gallons of water and add 3 extra pints to treat the household plumbing such as the pressure tank, hot water heater and pipes.
Can you put too much bleach in a 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 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. To disinfect your well follow this procedure.
Why is my well water suddenly orange?
If it comes out red, yellow, or orange right from the tap, you probably have ferric iron present in your well water. This usually happens after the iron has come into contact with oxygen and started to rust somewhere in your water supply.
What is a natural way to clean well water?
Liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach and food grade white vinegar can be used to disinfect your well. When chlorine is added to water the pH level will rise. Food grade white vinegar is used to lower the water’s pH level so the chlorine will work effectively.
