HOW TO DISINFECT A WATER WELL
1. Turn on outside spigots and run the water for several hours.
2. Remove the well cap or the vent plug if the well is equipped with a sanitary well seal.
3. Pour 2 gallons of household bleach
(5.25% chlorine) directly into the well.
4. Connect a hose to a house spigot and run water directly into the well until the chlorine odor is present in the water. Run the water this way for 15 minutes.
5. Shut off water hose. Add 2 quarts of vinegar directly into the well. Then, run water directly into the well for another 10 minutes.
6. Shut off the water supply to the hose and proceed to systematically open each water fixture throughout the entire house until chlorine odor is present. Remember to turn on yard hydrants, outside spigots, wash machines, and flush toilets. Include both cold and hot water valves. Bypass the water softener. The water softener may be disinfected separately using ¼ to ½ cup of chlorine bleach placed into the small fill tube in the large brine tank followed by a manual recharge. Remove and discard any carbon filters or cartridge filter elements and thoroughly clean the inside of the filter housing.
7. Close all valves. Recap the well or replace the vent pipe or plug.
Leave all valves closed for a period of 24 hours or longer.
8. Open the hose spigot and discharge water to ground surface or drainage ditch until chlorine odor disappears. It is best not to flush into the septic system as this may overload the septic system. Open every household fixture and let water run until the chlorine odor is gone.
9. The well should now be properly disinfected. Contact the Health Department to make an appointment for your water test. Water samples shall be collected a minimum of 48 hours after the well has been chlorinated and completely flushed to remove all residual chlorine from the system. Water to be tested shall be checked for the presence of chlorine prior to analysis. Water samples are taken Thursday afternoons.