How
to disinfect your well
You can easily disinfect your well by adding the following
amounts of ordinary chlorinated household bleach:
Dug Wells (three feet (1m) in diameter): Add one quart (one
litre) of household bleach for every five feet (1.5m) of water
depth.
Drilled wells (six inches (15 cm) in diameter): Add five
ounces (142ml) of household bleach for every 25ft (7.5m) of water
depth.
Well points (two inches (5cm) diameter: Add three ounces
(85ml) of household bleach for every 10ft (3m) of depth.
Do not drink the water until you receive satisfactory sample
results.
- Add regular chlorinated household bleach (not lemon-scented
or other types of bleach) to the well. If you don’t know how
deep the water is in the well, use the well depth to estimate
how much bleach to add.
- Disconnect the filter, run water through all taps for 20
minutes and let sit for 12 hours.
- Run the rest of the treated water through the outside hose
away from the septic tank system.
- Stop running the water to waste when the smell of chlorine
is gone.
- Use the water supply as you would normally (except for
drinking), then resample in 48 hours.
- Take 3 samples – 1 week apart.
Emergency Treatment
Remember you are disinfecting your well because the water is
unsafe. You can make it safe by:
- By boiling it for one minute
or
- By adding eight drops (1.25 ml or ¼ teaspoon) of
chlorinated household bleach (not lemon-scented or fabric
safe) per gallon (4.5 l) of water. Mix it well and allow to
stand for 15 minutes. (This treatment will not kill
parasites).
- Refrigerate boiled or treated water until used.
Please contact this
office if you are in doubt as to type of chlorine solution to
be used, (613) 735-8654 or 1-800-267-1097.
