OPTION 1: Shock and Resample your Water
OPTION 1 - STEP 1: If possible, Identify and Eliminate
the Source of Contamination. (2-3 weeks)
If you are able to find the source of contamination you may be able to stop the cause and then eliminate the bacteria from your well and home plumbing.
The presence of Total
Coliform bacteria in well water is a result of surface water infiltration or seepage from a septic system. Drinking water should not contain more than 10 total Coliform bacteria per 100 ml.
*E. coli appears
in water samples contaminated by fecal matter; thus, they indicate the possible
presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or protozoa.
Corrective action should be taken immediately!
The maximum acceptable concentration of E. coli is "0" per 100 ml of water.* * = Information taken from Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
OPTION 1 -
STEP 2: Shock the Well and Plumbing Systems to Disinfect your Water. (12-24 hours)
Weather you could identify the source of the infection or not, the well and plumbing systems should be shocked in order to disinfect the entire system - you can do this by using unscented household bleach.
When shocking the well you MUST use the proper quantity of bleach required to properly disinfect new and existing wells and plumbing systems.
Steps for Chlorine Disinfection
1. Add the amount of unscented bleach (determined in the Table) to the bottom of the Well and then agitate the water. Connect a garden hose to a nearby tap and wash down the inside wall of the Well. This will ensure thorough mixing of the chlorine and the water throughout the Well.
2. Start the pump and bleed air from the pressure tank. Open each tap and allow the water to run through all taps until a smell of chlorine is detected, then turn off the taps.
If a strong smell is not detected, add more bleach to the Well.
3. Allow the water to sit in the system for 12-24 hours.
4. Start the pump and run water through the outside hose away from grass and shrubbery until the strong smell of chlorine disappears. Make certain that the water does not enter any watercourse (channel that a flowing body of water follows).
Finally, open the indoor taps until the system is completely flushed.
Table 1: Disinfection of Well Water with Unscented
Household Bleach (Approximately 5.2% Hypochlorite)
DO NOT DRINK HEAVILY CHLORINATED WATER, BATHE, OR SHOWER IN IT.
Doing so can damage skin and other tissue.
Remember that bacteria can continue to grow from any
source; hot water tank, fridge water dispenser, ice-maker, dishwasher, and
clothes washer, as well as any dead end piping in the plumbing system.
Shocking the well does not guarantee that the bacteria has been eliminated. Retest after 2 to 4 months.
OPTION 1 - STEP 3: Resampling your Water (2-3 weeks)