Chlorination of Your Well Water

Well water is not always safe from factors that may contribute to contamination.  There are several things that can get into your water and contaminate it such as bacteria, microorganisms, soil and even water that is already contaminated. The most common cause of contaminated water is bacteria, more specifically bacteria from the Coliform family. Coliform bacteria do not cause disease, but when testing your water for contamination the presence of this bacteria will tell you whether there is a disease-causing pathogen present or not. Testing your well water is something that should be done at least once a year since testing is the only reliable way to be sure your water is clean. Testing kits are easy to use and will show you if more than just Coliform bacteria is in your water. These tests will show alkalinity, pH, hardness, iron, manganese and total dissolved solids. If your test reveal your well water is contaminated, there are a few ways to go about fixing it.

Chlorination of your water is the most common method used when cleaning your well water system. There are two types of chlorination: chlorine bleach and solid bleach pellets/powders, both of which are effective. The more common choice is chlorine bleach. Chlorination of your well should be done by a licensed water well contractor, like Suburban Well Drilling, to ensure that it is done properly and with appropriate precaution. To begin the chlorination process, the right amount of bleach needs to be calculated using specific formulas. If the incorrect amount of chlorine is put into your well it may not disinfect your water enough.  If that happens you will continue to drink contaminated water.  There is a science to the process which is why it is important to consult a licensed professional.

Chlorination of well water is effective when looking to rid your water of bacteria, but if you are experiencing reoccurring bacteria problems there may be an underlying issue that could potentially be causing the contamination. Seepage of unclean water that hasn’t been filtered is a very easy way for bacteria and other microorganisms to contaminate your water. This seepage could be due to a defective or missing well cap, cracks in the well casing (or outside the well casing) or even well flooding. Other underlying causes could be improper well location or faults made during the original construction of the well. These are all things that you or a professional should be checking.  Simply chlorinating your water when there is a deeper problem will only lead to frustration when the contaminants reoccur again.

Safety is something to always consider when working with chlorine because it is very volatile. It is in your best interest to call a trustworthy, licensed water well contractor when dealing with water well concerns. Suburban Well Drilling can provide you with a highly skilled technician to assist you with chlorination of your well or any well water issue that may arise. We have been providing services for commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural clients for over 70 years, proving that we are a name you can count on.