Steps in Shocking A Well
- Prepare the well, plumbing system, equipment: fix any leaks, inoperative controls, or obvious nearby contaminant sources. Take any charcoal-filter type water treatment equipment offline.
- Introduce the chlorine solution into the top of the wel l. ...
- Using a garden hose, spray water down into the well pipe to wash the chlorine solution down to the bottom of the well. Ten gallons of water should be enough. ...
- Turn on all cold water household taps until you can smell the Clorox coming out of every plumbing fixture water supply, including the faucet farthest from the well. ...
- Turn off the water and do not use it for 8 to 24 hours. Seal the top of the well. ...
- Flush out the Clorox™ (or other brand) bleach solution: at the end of the standing period, operate the well pump (run the water) water until you can no longer smell ...
- Retest the well water after all the Clorox or chlorine is out of the system and the water has been used for 5-7 days (typical health department guideline) or 7-10 ...
How often do I need to shock my well?
Shocking a well is usually only a good idea to do once. Normally, it is not a good idea to shock a well on a regular basis. Especially if it has iron or manganese in the water. It is only recommended that a well be shocked one time. Such as when it is a new well. Or if it tested positive for coliform or ecoli bacteria.
Why should I Shock my well and plumbing?
The Shock Chlorination Process
- CLEAN: Remove all loose or foreign debris from the well house, spring house or storage tank. ...
- 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. ...
Do I need to shock my well?
When iron bacteria and sulphate-reducing bacteria start to reproduce at rapid rates in your well system, they can cause problems for you, and also your well itself. Shock chlorination needs to be done in able to eliminate these bacteria.
How do you shock a well with chlorine?
To shock your well with chlorinated water, follow the below steps:
- Make sure your treatment bypasses any water filters, softeners or purification systems. ...
- Lift the plug that’s used for inspection on the top of your well. ...
- Fill a 5-gallon container with standing water, then measure out the pellets or granules needed and add them to the container. ...
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How long do you shock a well for?
The length of time for flushing depends on the concentration of chlorine, depth of the well, formation type, the pH and the size of the distribution system. It will usually take 4 to 8 hours to flush the well after a standard well chlorination.
Can you put shock in your well?
Shock chlorination is the process by which home water systems such as wells, springs, and cisterns are disinfected using household liquid bleach (or chlorine). Shock chlorination is the most widely recommended means of treating bacterial contamination in home water systems.
How do you shock a well tank?
Shock chlorination of a storage tank or reservoir consists of the following steps:Calculate tank water volume.Determine the time frame or "Method Exposure"Add the correct amount of bleach using the Shock Chlorination Calculation tool (xls)Wait for disinfection to occur.Flush tank volume.Take special coliform samples.
How much bleach do you put in a well to shock it?
Mix 2 quarts bleach in 10 gallons of water; pour into well. Connect a garden hose to a nearby faucet and wash down the inside of the well. Open each faucet and let the water run until a strong chlorine odor is detected, then turn it off and go to the next one. Don't forget outdoor faucets and hydrants.
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.
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.
How do you know when to shock your well?
When should I shock chlorinate my well? Wells should be shock chlorinated when a well water sample result shows that there is bacteria in the water. Any time a well is opened for repair it must be disinfected. Newly-built wells should also be shock chlorinated following construction.
How do you clean sediment out of a well?
0:0518:04Removing Silt/Mud Sediment from our Well - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo basically the idea is we'll put this down into the well we'll turn it right and it's kind ofMoreSo basically the idea is we'll put this down into the well we'll turn it right and it's kind of roughened up down here.
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.
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.
Should I put 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.
Why do you shock a well?
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 will I have to wait before I can use my well after shock chlorination?
The exact waiting time ranges from 12 to 24 hours after you’ve added the chlorine and allowed it to circulate through your household plumbing syste...
Is it safe to shock a well?
Yes – though you should take appropriate care when handling the chlorine solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wear prote...
Will water filters remove bacteria?
No. You may use whole-home carbon filters to filter your well water. While carbon filters are effective at removing certain well water contaminants...
How can I be sure that shocking my well worked?
Test the water in your well for contamination after you’ve completed the shock chlorination process. A water test will let you know whether the pro...