Well Chlorination

U.S. Water & Air Testing DOES NOT offer well shocking or chlorination services (no conflict of interest). While many water well owners perform water sanitation themselves, we recommend that you have a professional handle this task, such as a plumber experienced with wells or a well pump specialist. Chlorine disinfection of a well may involve some plumbing work and potentially electrical connections. The amount of chlorine used must be calculated based on your well casing diameter, well depth, and the volume of standing water in the well. Flushing your well requires careful monitoring to ensure it does not run dry, as this could lead to costly repairs or replacement if the pump burns out.

During the well chlorination process, which is part of chlorine disinfection for effective water sanitation, the building or dwelling will be without water for 24-48 hours. During this period, you will not be able to drink, cook, wash, or bathe with the water from the well. It is advisable to make the necessary arrangements to manage without well water during this time. You will need water in 5-gallon buckets to dissolve or dilute the product used to shock the well, so be sure to fill these buckets before shutting off power to the well. Additionally, determine if you will need to bypass any existing filter system according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Wear personal protection, which includes safety glasses or goggles, rubber gloves, and a breathing mask, especially when performing chlorine disinfection for water sanitation. Cover yourself to guard against the possibility of products splashing onto your skin and clothing. Additionally, placing a tarp around the well and mixing area is recommended to manage potential splashing and spills.

A chlorinated product is recommended for effective chlorine disinfection. Commonly, a non-scented chlorine bleach is used due to its wide availability, which is likely why it is endorsed by the EPA and Agricultural Universities for water sanitation. However, there are specialized products designed specifically for well sanitation that can be found at stores like Tractor Supply and rural hardware stores. The dosage of chlorine needed will vary based on the product used, the diameter of the well casing, the depth of the well, and the standing water level within the well.

Turn off the electricity to the well at the breaker panel. Next, locate how the liquid sanitation for chlorine disinfection will be poured into the well. Many well heads have a plug that can be removed or an air vent that can be accessed. If the well cap itself needs to be removed, this might involve some plumbing and/or electrical work. For a shallow dug well, the lid can typically be easily removed.

Some wells may have obstructions that can hinder solid or powder products from reaching the water within the well. Therefore, if you have purchased a powder or pellet product for chlorine disinfection, it should be dissolved in water within 5-gallon buckets before being poured into the well. Similarly, a liquid product designed for water sanitation should be diluted with water in 5-gallon buckets. To ensure a smooth process, use a clean funnel to carefully pour the liquid through the previously determined access point.

The electric will need to be turned back on for the next step, so please do so safely. Connect a hose from the building and route it to the well. Run water through the hose until the odor of chlorine disinfection can be detected coming out of the hose. Direct the chlorinated water back down into the well, rinsing the walls of the well casing if possible. After a few minutes, turn the hose off. Then, run water through each faucet until the chlorinated smell is noticeable, and shut the faucet off immediately. It's important to avoid sending too much chlorinated water down the drains, as this can negatively impact the beneficial bacteria within the septic system and disrupt water sanitation.

Wait 24–48 hours before flushing the well and plumbing system to ensure proper chlorine disinfection. It is crucial not to drink, cook, bathe, or wash with the water during this period, as it will contain high levels of chlorine. Once the waiting period is over, turn on an outside spigot with a hose attached and run the water to a safe area where it will not disturb plants, lakes, streams, or septic systems and is away from the building's foundation. Run the water in intervals of 15–20 minutes on and then off until there is no longer a chlorine odor. You may notice some discoloration of the water, which is typically caused by mineral sediment held by the biofilm buildup within the well walls. During any part of the flushing process, if the water volume reduces, you should stop the flow of water immediately and wait longer intervals before running the water again, using shorter intervals to prevent the well from running dry. After the exterior flushing, run water through the interior fixtures until there is no longer a chlorine odor. The major flushing should be done outside to minimize the amount of chlorination entering the septic system. It is recommended to use a septic system bacteria restoration product afterward to help restore any bacteria that may have been impacted during the water sanitation process.

The system should now be disinfected through chlorine disinfection. If bacteria were present before the well was disinfected, retesting the water should be conducted to ensure that all bacteria have been removed, guaranteeing proper water sanitation before the well water is used for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing. Normal household water use can resume if this was merely a routine disinfecting.