Do you get your household water supply from a well on your property rather than a municipal water system? If so, then it's vital that you understand the importance of well cleaning. Proper cleaning is essential because it ensures that your well water is safe to use. The following article explores this important subject in detail.
Why?
You might wonder why a water well would need to be cleaned. One of the main reasons is because of the buildup of a crust along the sides of the well, a condition known as encrustation. This crust can interfere with the proper flow of water from the well and needs to be removed occasionally to allow the well to function at an optimal level.
Another reason for cleaning is the growth of bacteria in the well. Bacteria often find good conditions for growth in the upper reaches of water wells because they have excellent access to oxygen around the surface of the water. Also, some bacteria thrive in water without needing oxygen and can multiply quickly near the bottom of the well where the supply of oxygen is low. Obviously, large amounts of dangerous bacteria in your drinking water is a health hazard that needs to be remedied as soon as possible.
Methods
Professional well cleaners have various methods for cleaning wells. If your well is full of encrustation or debris, they might use chemicals to loosen the crust from the sides of the well and then use a high-powered water spray to remove it completely. Another technique for removing crust is to attach a brush to a drill and lower the brush into the well. Contractors may also combine several of these methods depending on the specific circumstances involved.
As for eliminating any bacteria, the disinfection is usually done with chlorine, which is the chemical of choice for most professional well cleaners. It's possible for a homeowner to perform this disinfection process themselves as long as they are aware of what steps need to be taken and follow all instructions carefully. If you decide to perform this cleaning task yourself, make certain that you have the well tested afterward to make sure that the bacteria in the well is at acceptable levels. The best course of action, however, is to let a professional handle all of the necessary well cleaning tasks from start to finish.
Contact a water well contractor near you to learn more.
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