Well Water Fact Sheet #4

How to Disinfect a Well

Full Chlorination Method
Chlorination is the process of treating (disinfecting) a aquifer surrounding the well. This is the method
well and plumbing system with chlorine to kill or reduce most commonly used by well drillers for wells with
certain kinds of bacteria. This includes coliform bacteria persistent bacterial contamination, or for wells that
that may indicate the presence of disease-causing have been affected by surface or flood waters. While
organisms and other nuisance bacteria (ex: iron and it’s often best to have a qualified person such as a
sulphur bacteria) that can cause unpleasant taste and licensed professional well driller or plumber to do a
odour in the water. Disinfecting a well will not get rid full chlorination procedure on your well, you can do
of other water quality problems such as hard water or it yourself if you have the necessary equipment and
nitrate contamination. carefully follow the steps listed on the following pages.
Chlorination is effective for getting rid of a one-time
case of bacterial contamination. However, if you
have an ongoing contamination problem (possibly
When to disinfect your well
related to poor well location, construction, or lack of You should consider disinfecting your well:
maintenance), disinfecting the well will only fix the
• if water tests show the presence of coliform bacteria
problem temporarily until the actual cause of the
ongoing problem is identified and corrected. • if surface or flood water gets into the well
• after a new well is drilled and hooked up to the
Sometimes, the source of bacterial contamination or its plumbing system
pathway into a well isn’t clear. Some types of wells are • after repairs or changes are made to an existing well
also more difficult to disinfect such as wells that have
• after a well pump is replaced or repaired
been impacted by flood water, wells located in a pit, or
artesian (flowing) wells. In these cases, it may be best to • as part of annual maintenance (ex: for treatment of
hire a qualified person such as a licensed professional iron and sulphur bacteria)
well driller or plumber to undertake the work. For more If you are disinfecting your well due to flooding or if you
details, please see our Well Water Fact Sheet #1 “How to suspect surface water has entered your well, wait until
Reduce the Risk of Water Well Contamination”. the flood water has receded, the likelihood of overland
flooding has passed, and for the ground around your
well to dry up before starting.
Full Chlorination
The Full Chlorination method kills bacteria that may
be present in wells, plumbing systems and in the
Well Water

Safety Precautions It is important to do the following prior to beginning the

disinfection process:
If you’re disinfecting your well because your water test 1. Advise everyone that the well is being disinfected
indicates that your well is contaminated with bacteria, and not to use the water.
continue to boil your tap water or use a safe source
2. Store enough water to last the household for up
of bottled water for drinking during the disinfection
to 24 hours. Use a safe source of bottled water for
process. For further instructions please refer to the Boil
drinking during the disinfection process or fill clean
Water Advisory Fact Sheet #2 “For Private Wells”.
water containers with the well water, but remember
If your well is close to neighbouring wells, the to boil the water if it’s being used for drinking. The
disinfection process could affect the water in those bathtub can be used to store water for household
wells. Let neighbouring well owners know that you purposes.
are disinfecting your well, so they can monitor for any 3. Buy new containers of regular, unscented,
chlorine smell and flush their systems as described detergent-free, chlorine bleach as bleach can lose
under the heading “Steps to Flush Well and Plumbing its strength over time.
System After Disinfection”.
4. Disconnect or bypass water filters and treatment
Handle chlorine bleach carefully and safely: equipment, including water softeners, reverse
osmosis (RO) systems and carbon filters. Check
• Use protective eyewear, gloves and clothing. the owners’ manuals for instructions on cleaning
• Keep children and pets away from the well area or disinfecting the treatment equipment.
during the disinfection process and don’t leave bleach 5. Shut off power to your water heater.
containers lying around.
• Avoid inhaling the fumes and if using bleach in
well houses, well pits or crawl spaces make sure to Steps for Full Chlorination
follow workplace safety and health rules for working 1. Pump 1,500 to 2,500 litres (300 to 500 gallons) of
in confined spaces. For more information regarding water into a clean water storage tank located near
working in confined spaces, contact SAFE Manitoba the well. Do not use containers that have held fuel,
(204-945-6848, www.safemanitoba.com). pesticides or other products; they can contaminate
the water.
Preparing to Disinfect a Well 2. Pour 10 litres (2 1/2 gallons) of bleach into the
water storage tank.
You can use regular household bleach to disinfect a 3. Remove the cap from the well casing.
well. The chlorine in the bleach will destroy bacteria.
4. Mix another 10 litres (2 1/2 gallons) of bleach in
Check the label on the bottle to make sure the bleach
15 litres (4 gallons) of water. Pour the mixture
does not have any kind of additives (ex: scent, detergent).
into the well. Use a funnel to control the flow and
The disinfection method is based on a chlorine direction of the bleach and don’t let it run over wire
concentration of about five per cent (5%), which is connections.
the typical concentration found in regular household 5. Immediately after pouring the bleach into the
bleach. Minor variations in the concentration of chlorine well, rinse the inside of the well casing for 10 to
will not affect the disinfection process. 15 minutes using a garden hose that is connected
to the water supply being disinfected. This will
 circulate the chlorine in the well. Then turn the 2. Direct the chlorinated water to an area away from
hose off. grass and shrubbery to avoid damage. Because
6. Let the well rest for about one hour. This allows the chlorine can kill fish and aquatic organisms,
chlorine to mix with the water in the well. make certain that it doesn’t drain into a lake, river
or other surface water body. Do not direct the
7. Siphon or slowly pour the 1,500 to 2,500 litres
chlorinated water to a septic tank or field. It can kill
(300 to 500 gallons) of water and bleach mixture
the bacteria needed to operate the system.
from the storage tank back into the well. Regulate
the flow so the water and bleach mixture doesn’t 3. Flush the plumbing system by running each faucet
overflow the casing onto the ground. (including inside, outside, cold and hot water
faucets, baths and showers) and flush all toilets
8. Replace and tighten the well cap.
(one at a time) until you can no longer smell
9. Open all faucets (inside, outside, cold and hot chlorine.
water, baths and showers) and flush all toilets (one
4. Turn the power back on to your water heater.
at a time), until you can smell the chlorine. This
circulates the chlorine throughout the household 5. Reconnect any water treatment devices. This is a
plumbing system. Then turn the faucets off. good opportunity to undertake maintenance on
water treatment equipment (replace filters, UV
10. Shut off the water supply to all toilets. Use stored
lights, filter media, etc).
water to flush toilets.
11. Let the bleach remain in the system for a minimum
of 12 hours; 24 hours is best. The longer the bleach After disinfecting your well and
remains in the system, the more time the chlorine plumbing system
has to destroy the bacteria.
12. Keep the amount of chlorinated water that goes Disinfecting wells can temporarily cause a visible change
in your sewage system to a minimum while in your well water. Your water may look dirty or appear
undertaking the disinfection process. Excess darker than normal. You may experience more staining
chlorine may affect the proper operation of a septic and sediment. This is a common occurrence mainly due
tank and field. to the flushing action and/or oxidation of any iron or
manganese present in the water. The water should clear
within a few days at the most.
Steps to Flush Well and Plumbing
Until you have retested your water, DO NOT drink the
System After Disinfection well water. Continue to boil your water for drinking
After 12 to 24 hours, you must flush the chlorine water, or use a safe source of bottled water, until a
solution out of the well and plumbing system. laboratory test for bacteria confirms your water supply is
free of bacteria.
1. Flush the well using a garden hose that is
connected to the water supply being disinfected. Wait one week to test your well water after disinfection.
Allow the water to run through the garden hose If the test result is free of coliform bacteria (a negative
until you can no longer detect a chlorine smell. If result) you can resume normal use of the water. Do a
the well is low yielding or tends to pump sediment follow-up test after one month to verify that there isn’t
(sand or fine particles), you should flush it slowly. any coliform bacteria in the water.
Overpumping may damage the well or increase the
amount of sediment.
If either the initial or follow-up test indicate the presence
of coliform bacteria (a positive result), further actions
may be required. You should consider contacting a
knowledgeable person such as a licensed professional
well driller or plumber to identify and deal with the
cause of the ongoing bacterial contamination.

For more information

For more information on drinking water safety, water For information on well driller reports, well construction,
treatment devices or to receive a copy of other drinking well sealing, or for a listing of licensed well drillers,
water fact sheets, please visit the Office of Drinking Water contact Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship,
website at www.manitoba.ca/drinkingwater or contact Groundwater Management Section at 204-945-6959.
the Private Well, Education and Outreach Co-ordinator at For health information, contact Health Links at 204-788-8200
204-948-1351. To locate a local office near you, please refer in Winnipeg; toll free at 1-888-315-9257 or contact your local
to the website at www.manitoba.ca/waterstewardship/odw/ public health office. To find your nearest office, go to:
reg-contacts/index.html. www.manitoba.ca/health/publichealth/offices.html.
For information on certification for water treatment
devices, visit www.nsf.org.

Part of:

January 2016