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Guest Column

To disinfect your well water, follow these steps

By WILL BRYANT
Published June 16, 2006

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Alberto might have made your water unsafe. If you are unsure about the impact of flooding on your well water, use bottled water or boil or disinfect the water you use for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, washing dishes and washing skin that's been cut or injured.

Unscented household bleach can be used as a chlorine disinfectant. Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute, disinfect it by adding eight drops (about one-eighth of a teaspoon) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water and then let it stand for 30 minutes, repeating the procedure if it still is cloudy.

If your well has been flooded, call the Citrus County Health Department to learn how to sample your water and where to bring the sample for bacteriological testing. If the test reveals bacteria, the well and water system need to be disinfected.

It is important to disinfect both well and plumbing water with unscented household bleach to ensure that all infectious agents are destroyed.

If you have water treatment devices, remove all membranes, cartridges, and filters and replace them after the chlorination process is complete. The amount of chlorine determines the length of time you allow the bleach to remain in your system.

The Department of Health recommends the following steps to disinfect a contaminated well:

If the water is discolored before adding the bleach, run the water until it is clear for up to 10 minutes.

Turn off and then drain your water heater; bleach is not effective in water above 105 degrees.

Remove and replace charcoal filters after the disinfecting process is complete.

To avoid adding contamination to the well during disinfection, clean the work area around the top of the well. Then remove grease and mineral deposits from accessible parts of the well head and flush the outside surfaces with a half cup of unscented household bleach in five gallons of water.

Turn off the pump. Remove the cap or the well plug on the rubber seal. There are many types of well caps and plugs. If you have questions, you should contact a licensed well driller. If you have a submersible pump, you also might want to contact a licensed well driller for advice on disinfection procedures.

The recommended amount of bleach solution is determined by the depth and diameter of the well. Call the Division of Environmental Health for the proper amount at 527-5295. Try to coat the sides of the casing as you pour. If you get bleach on the pump or wiring, flush it thoroughly with fresh water to prevent later corrosion.

Recap or plug the well opening and wait 30 minutes.

Turn on and, if needed, reprime the pump. Open all of the faucets on the system one at a time. Allow the water to run until there is a noticeable smell of bleach. You also might want to flush the toilets. If you have outside faucets, you might want to direct the water away from sensitive plants. If you cannot detect a bleach odor, repeat the disinfecting process.

Turn off all of the faucets and allow the bleach to remain in the system for at least eight hours.

Backwash water softeners, sand filters and iron removal filters with bleach water.

Again, open all the faucets and run the water until there is no bleach smell for up to 15 minutes.

After disinfecting your well, the water needs to be tested to verify that it is safe to drink. Although unscented household bleach is effective against microorganisms, it will not remove chemical contamination that may have gotten into your well. Contact your county health department for sampling instructions to get your water tested.

For more information, visit www.doh.state.fl.us or www.Florida-Disaster.org.

To reach the Florida Emergency Information Line, call toll-free 1-800-342-3557.

To reach public information Emergency Support Function, call (850) 921-0384.

Will Bryant is environmental health supervisor at the Citrus County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health. For information, call 527-5295.

[Last modified June 16, 2006, 06:55:05]