Signs Your Well Water Is Contaminated And How A Contractor Cleans It

Posted on: 9 February 2018

If you own a private well, you probably know it should be inspected and the water tested at least once a year. This can find problems that indicate the well needs to be repaired, cleaned, or disinfected. You may need to have your well serviced on an emergency basis too after a flood or when the water quality changes. Here's how to tell if your water is contaminated and how the well is cleaned.

Signs Of Well Water Contamination

The quality of your water should stay consistent. If the taste changes or if you see particulates floating in the water, you should have the well inspected. Other signs of a problem include water that has a foul odor that might smell fishy or like sulfur. Also, if your family has frequent stomach upsets, you might want to suspect bacteria in your well.

Besides bacterial contamination that can cause the growth of slime, the metal in the tank might deteriorate and cause the water to carry rust. Also, changes in the environment such as a change in procedures at a local farm or factory might cause contamination that alters the taste of your water due to the addition of chemicals or heavy metals. If you have hard water in your area, scale can develop as well and this can lead to the presence of particulates in the water and a cloudy appearance.

The Process Of Cleaning And Disinfecting A Well

If your well has an accumulation of slime, rust, or scale, the contractor may need to scrub the inside of the well with a brush to remove the buildup. Another option for cleaning is to use a water jet or chemical cleaners. Once the well has been cleaned, it may need to be disinfected. This can be done by pouring a bleach solution into the well and circulating water so the pipes are disinfected as well. The bleach may need to stay in the well for several hours, so you won't be able to use your water during that time.

When it's time to rinse out the bleach, water is circulated through the system to clear it out. It's important to use the appropriate bleach ratio in the disinfecting process and to protect delicate parts of the well that could be damaged. The contractor can advise you on the procedure for disinfecting appliances, faucets, and other indoor parts of your water system that were contaminated with the water. Test strips may be used to ensure the level of bleach is high enough when disinfecting and low enough when rinsed out.

It's not always necessary to disinfect and clean your well when it is inspected annually. That's why testing of your water is important. You may not know the water is contaminated, but testing lets you know the well needs to be cleaned. Once the well is cleaned and disinfected, you'll want to have another water test done to ensure the cleanup was successful. For more information, contact companies like Mike's Drilling.

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