How can we protect well water?

How can we protect well water?

The Top Ten Things You Can Do To Protect Your Well

1. 1 – Locate Your Well.
2. 2 – Inspect the Wellhead.
3. 4 – Conserve Water.
4. 5 – Keep Surface Water Runoff Away From the Wellhead.
5. 6 – Maintain a “No Pollution” Buffer Around the Wellhead.
6. 7 – Protect the Soil From Contamination by Oil, Gasoline and Household Chemicals.

What happens if your well water is contaminated?

Organic chemicals can enter ground water and contaminate private wells through waste disposal, spills, and surface water run-off. People that consume high levels of organic chemicals may suffer from damage to their kidneys, liver, circulatory system, nervous system, and reproductive system.

How do you tell if your well is contaminated?

Smell Signs to Look Out For One of the easiest ways to determine if your water is contaminated is by the smell of rotten eggs. A rotten egg smell points to sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide gas in your water. Sulfur bacteria are naturally occurring.

Can you fix a contaminated well?

If you find that your well water is polluted, fix the problem as soon as possible. You may need to disinfect your water have a new well drilled, re plumb or repair your system. Consider hooking into a nearby community water system (if one is available).

How long after you shock a well can you drink the water?

Wait one to two weeks after shock chlorinating the water supply system to retest for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. Follow sample collection instructions carefully. If the test results show the absence of coliform bacteria, the water is safe to drink.

How much does it cost to shock 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.

When should you shock your 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 should you shock your 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 you put too much bleach in your well?

Do not use excessive amounts of bleach – more is not more effective. 5) For best results the bleach should be combined with water before adding it to the well. [By reducing the concentration there is less chance of corrosion of the cables and pipes in the well.

What happens when you pour too much bleach?

Drinking a bleach solution can cause vomiting, nausea, throat, and stomach irritation. The vomit is likely to have a chlorine smell to it. Contact with chlorine gas can severely burn and irritate the eyes, skin, nose, and throat, possibly causing permanent damage.

Can you run out of water in a well?

Can Your Well Run Out of Water? If your well has been correctly drilled, it can last your family a lifetime, but it is possible for a well to run dry. This often happens with wells that are too shallow. If a well is not drilled deep enough, it may only be a water table well.

How do you fix well water bacteria?

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1. Chlorination is the process of treating (disinfecting) a well and plumbing system with chlorine to kill or reduce certain kinds of bacteria.
2. Full Chlorination.
3. The Full Chlorination method kills bacteria that may be present in wells, plumbing systems and in the aquifer surrounding the well.