If the cover on top of your well casing is damaged, insects and animals could crawl inside, decompose, and elevate bacteria levels, causing diarrhea and other digestive issues if consumed. The well cap should be at least six inches off the ground, and homeowners should avoid growing plants or building boxes around the well casing.
A standard treatment for sanitizing your well system is shock chlorination. Guidelines for using this treatment safely and effectively are listed below.
What is Shock Chlorination?
Shock chlorination is the process by which home water systems such as wells, springs, and cisterns are disinfected using household liquid bleach (or chlorine). Shock chlorination is the most widely recommended means of treating bacterial contamination in home water systems.
When Should Shock Chlorination Be Used?
Shock chlorination is recommended:
- upon completion of a new well or when an unused well is returned to service
- if annual water test results indicate the presence of bacteria
- if a well system is opened for any installation, repair or maintenance
- whenever the well is surrounded by flood waters (standing water around or covering the well casing)
- if well water becomes muddy or cloudy after a rain
- if the well has iron bacteria or sulfur-reducing bacteria symptoms like slime (biofilm) or odor
Is Shock Chlorination Always Effective?
After shock chlorination, bacterial contamination may reoccur if a source of contamination persists, such as:
- a nearby malfunctioning septic system
- a pathway for surface water entry to a well, such as:
- an improper well location
- absence of a well cap or an improperly placed or loose well cap
- inadequate grouting or other faults during well construction
- a cracked well casing
Shock chlorination is NOT a recommended method for treating recurring bacteria problems. The source(s) of such contamination should be identified and eliminated by a licensed well driller/contractor. Another option is to install a continuous disinfection treatment system.
- A leaky foot valve or check valve at the well piping bottom or anywhere in the well piping system. Another symptom of a leaky foot valve is loss of well prime or occasional cycling on of the well pump when no water is being run. A leak at the pitless adapter where the well piping leaves the well casing.
- A well is a system used to draw water up from an underground water source. Usually, a hole is drilled into saturated soil or rock, with a pipe inserted to draw water to the surface.
Shock Chlorination and Temporary Arsenic Release
Although shock chlorination will sanitize wells, it may temporarily increase the arsenic levels of water in areas where aquifer sediments contain high levels of arsenic (WDNR, 2008). Arsenic occurs naturally in some bedrock and aquifer sediments in the southern coastal plain (SCP) region of Georgia, and it has been found in drinking water from some private wells in this region. When the water table is lowered due to pumping of groundwater, the sediments in groundwater are exposed to oxygen. Oxygen helps in dissolving some of the arsenic contained in sediments. Similarly, because chlorine is a strong oxidant, it could dissolve arsenic from sediments and release it into the groundwater.
If well owners have detectable levels of arsenic in water, the following steps may be useful:
- Do not use either acid or alkaline bleach solution. Solution with pH 6-7 is best.
- Do not leave chlorine solutions inside well casings for longer times than prescribed (12-24 hours).
- Well casings, holding tanks and pipes should be flushed thoroughly until no residual levels of chlorine are found.
- Well water for drinking should be tested for arsenic after shock chlorination to make sure the arsenic concentration is at a safe level (less than 10 ppb).
What Precautions Should Be Taken Prior to Shock Chlorination?
Shock chlorination is used to remove bacterial contaminants from well water, well casings, holding tanks and the whole water supply system. A licensed well driller is trained to shock chlorinate. Should you decide to shock chlorinate your well yourself, take the following precautionary measures:
- Concentrated chlorine solutions for shock chlorination can be dangerous. Because of the volatile and corrosive nature of the concentrated chlorine solution, it is important to wear appropriate clothing, including goggles, a protective apron, and rubber gloves and boots. Mix and add chlorine solution in a well-ventilated area.
- High chlorine levels in water after shock chlorination. Arrange for an alternative source of drinking water. Make sure that children and older adults do not consume tap water during treatment.
- Chlorine should have enough contact time to kill the bacteria. Make sure that no one in your home uses the water for any purpose during the 12 to 24 hour treatment.
- Preventing electric shock from the water pump. Before removing the well cap or cover, turn the pump circuit breaker off. In Step 3 of the shock chlorination process below, you will need to turn the power back on, but be sure to turn the pump circuit breaker off again before replacing the well cap or cover (Step 6). Wear waterproof rubber boots.
- Protecting components of water supply and treatment devices. Shock chlorinating a water supply system can potentially damage components such as pressure tanks, some filters and filter media, and other treatment devices. Before you begin, disconnect all carbon filters and reverse osmosis units attached to your household water lines. The strong chlorine solution can damage these filters. However, some water softeners, iron filters and sand filters may not be damaged. Check with component manufacturers before shock chlorinating your water supply system to determine how to bypass or protect this equipment if necessary.
When Will the Water Be Drinkable Again after Shock Chlorination?
Wait one to two weeks after shock chlorinating the water supply system to retest for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. Follow sample collection instructions carefully. If the test results show the absence of coliform bacteria, the water is safe to drink. However, if test results show the presence of coliform bacteria, the source(s) of contamination should be identified and eliminated through a licensed well driller/contractor or a continuous disinfection treatment system should be installed.
What Kind of Chlorine Bleach Should Be Used?
Use the plain (and generally least expensive) unscented household chlorine bleach with at least 5% sodium hypochlorite found in supermarkets; do NOT buy fresh scent, lemon or other scented chlorine products.
How Much Chlorine Do I Use?
When using ordinary laundry bleach, 3 pints should be added for every 100 gallons of water in the well. To determine the amount of standing water in your well, follow the steps below.
- Determine the depth of water in your well, which is the distance from the bottom of the well to the water level. To find this information, measure the distance from the ground level to the water level (distance 'b' in the diagram). Subtract 'b' from the well depth 'a' to find the total depth of the water: a - b = c. If you do not know the depth of your well, but you know the well drilling company who constructed it, contact that company. Well drillers often keep records of all the wells they drill. If you can?t find any records about your well, contact a licensed well driller to assist you in taking the appropriate measurements.
- Determine your well's storage per foot of water. This number is based on the diameter of your well. Generally, there are two types of wells: drilled and bored. The inside diameter of the casing (well pipe) of a drilled well is typically between 4 and 10 inches. Bored wells are larger, ranging from 12 to 36 inches. Refer to the following table to determine your well?s storage per foot of water.
- Multiply your total depth of water 'c' times your storage per foot of water 's.' For this example we will assume that 'c' is 204 ft. The product will be the volume of water in your well: 204 × 1.47 = 300 gal.
- Pour 3 pints of bleach into your well for every 100 gallons of water and add 3 extra pints to treat the household plumbing such as the pressure tank, hot water heater and pipes. If the volume of water in your well is 300 gallons, you will add 9 pints of bleach to treat the well and 3 extra pints for the plumbing for a total of 12 pints or 1.5 gallons:
| Drilled Well/Pipe | Bored Well | ||
| Diameter (inches) | Storage per foot of water (gal/ft)* | Diameter (inches) | Storage per foot of water (gal/ft) |
| 4' | 0.653 | 12' | 5.88 |
| 5' | 1.02 | 16' | 10.5 |
| 6' | 1.47 | 20' | 16.3 |
| 7' | 2.00 | 24' | 23.5 |
| 8' | 2.61 | 28' | 32.0 |
| 9' | 3.30 | 32' | 41.8 |
| 10' | 4.08 | 36' | 52.9 |
| * If your well diameter is not listed in the above table, or if you use a cistern or reservoir, you will need to contact your local Extension office for more information. | |||
| 300 x 3 | + 3 = 12 pts = 1.5 gal |
| 100 |
If the depth of the water in the well is unknown, use a volume of bleach equal to two times the 150 ft water depth for the appropriate casing diameter. For example, an 8-inch casing diameter with 150 ft water depth would require 1.85 gallons of household bleach. If the water depth is unknown, the required amount of bleach will be 1.85 × 2 = 3.7 gallons. Do not use bleach in excess of the recommended amount because it is not necessary and will require additional flushing before household use.
The Shock Chlorination Process
- CLEAN: Remove all loose or foreign debris from the well house, spring house or storage tank. Turn the pump circuit breaker off and remove the well cap or cover. Then scrub the accessible interior surface with strong chlorine solution (1/2 gallon chlorine bleach per 5 gallons clean water). If the well does not have a sanitary cap in good condition it must be replaced with a new one to avoid recontamination.
- CALCULATE AND POUR: Pour 3 pints of chlorine bleach per 100 gallons of water plus an additional 3 pints into your well as described above.
- MIX: Attach a clean garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well. Turn the faucet on, then turn the pump back on and let water run until you smell chlorine coming out of the hose. Using the hose, wash down the interior of the well casing for about 15 minutes and close the outdoor faucet.
- CIRCULATE: Allow the solution to circulate throughout the system. Open each faucet, first outside, then inside the house (both hot and cold), one at a time, and let the water run. Close each faucet after a strong chlorine odor is detected. Flush the toilets one at a time. If a strong chlorine odor cannot be detected at each faucet and toilet, pour an additional 3 pints of bleach into the well and try again.
- FLUSH AND FINISH: Turn the pump circuit breaker off, return the well cap or put the cover back in place. Allow chlorinated water to remain in the system for 12 to 24 hours. Turn the pump circuit breaker on. Rid the system of the remaining chlorine by turning on outside faucets, one at a time, and letting them run until you no longer smell chlorine. Finally, run the indoor faucets, one at a time, until water is clear and the chlorine smell is gone. Flush each toilet. Do not run more than 100 gallons of chlorinated water into your septic system or allow it to drain into a stream, pond or lake through a drainage ditch. To conserve the water, you may run it into a storage tank and use it to water vegetation after the chlorine dissipates.
Sources
'Shock Chlorination of Home Wells, Springs and Cisterns,' University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
'Shock Chlorination of Domestic Water Supplies,' Cooperative Extension Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Virginia Household Water Quality Program: Shock Chlorination: Disinfecting Private Household Water Supply Systems. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
WDNR. 2008. Well Chlorination in Arsenic Sensitive Areas. PUB-DG-069 2002 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Reviewers
Adam Speir (UGA), Alyson McCann (University of Rhode Island), Jackie Ogden (UGA), and Mark Risse (UGA)
Status and Revision History
Published on Dec 17, 2012
Published with Full Review on Sep 01, 2016
Subject to the other provisions herein contained, this lease shall remain in force for a term of ____ years from this date (herein called 'primary term') and as long thereafter as oil and gas, or either of them, is produced from the above described land or drilling operations are continuously prosecuted as hereinafter provided. 'Drilling operations' includes operations for the drilling of a new well, the reworking, deepening or plugging back of a well or hole or other operations conducted in an effort to obtain or re-establish production or oil or gas; and drilling operations shall be considered to be 'continuously prosecuted' if not more than 180 days shall elapse between the completion or abandonment of one well or hole and the commencement of drilling operations on another well or hole. If, after the expiration of the primary term of this lease, oil or gas is not being produced from the leased premises but lessee is then engaged in drilling operations, this lease shall continue in force so long as drilling operations are continuously prosecuted; and if production of oil or gas results from any such drilling operations, this lease shall continue in force so long as oil or gas shall be produced from the leased premises. If after the expiration of the primary term of this lease, production on the leased premises should cease, this lease shall not terminate if lessee is then prosecuting drilling operations, or within 180 days after each such cessation of production commences drilling operations, and this lease shall remain in force so long as such operations are continuously prosecuted, and if production results therefrom, then as long thereafter as oil or gas is produced from the leased premises.
Even a Pugh clause does not ordinarily defeat these savings provisions. The function of the Pugh clause is to prevent the lessee from holding non-producing lands with a single production unit. It does not prohibit the establishment of production and holding of lands by savings provisions. The typical Pugh clause reads as follows:
If at the end of the primary term, a part but not all of the land covered by this lease, on a surface acreage basis, is not included within a unit or units in accordance with the other provisions hereof, this lease shall terminate as to such part, or parts, of the land lying outside such unit or units, unless this lease is perpetuated as to such land outside such unit or units by operations conducted thereon or by the production of oil, gas or other minerals, or by such operations and such production in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Note that not only does the typical Pugh clause not conflict with the 'continuously prosecuted' savings provisions, but it acknowledges the possibility that the lease may be perpetuated beyond the primary term by those very savings provisions.
Well Casing Repair Cost
In a bid to test these savings provisions, a large Colorado landowner argued that a 'completion' was an ambiguous term in the savings provisions. That is, it the completion date could be the date on which the well cased and perforated or the date on which the well was hydraulically fractured. The case of Bledsoe Land Company, LLLP v. Forest Oil was decided on June 23, 2011. See the opinion at http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3498925303401075223.Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Repair
To understand the landowner's argument, a little background on completion is instructive. A conventional oil and gas reservoir has its own energy to force the migration of oil and gas to the surface (“up hole”). Completion is a simple matter of drilling the well, setting production casing, and perforating the production casing. The perforations are the holes in the casing that allow oil and gas to flow from the reservoir rock into the casing. The casing is the pipe that contains the oil and gas on its way up to the surface. The reservoir releases its energy without any further stimulation allowing the oil and gas to flow up hole. There is, therefore, an argument that 'completion' means what it does in the conventional sense--the setting and perforation of production casing.
Types Of Well Casings
With tight gas and oil found in shale formations, it takes more than the setting and perforation of production casing to recover the oil or gas because there is no readily available reservoir energy. The producer must create cracks in the formation to release the formation's energy so that the oil and gas to flows up hole. The producer accomplishes this with hydraulic fracturing. Using thousands of pounds of pressure, the producer forces a cocktail of chemicals, sand, and water through the production casing perforations. The force applied to the water breaks the formation apart and the sand props these fractures open so that oil and gas can flow up hole.
In Bledsoe, the landowners' acreage was being held beyond the primary term by continuous operations with 180 day continuous drilling savings provisions. The lessee commenced a subsequent well 184 days past the casing of the first well and 197 days past the perforation of the casing in the first well, but only 176 days after the hydraulic fracturing of the first well. The landowner won at the trial level, with trial court declaring the term “completion” to be ambiguous. After reviewing the extrinsic evidence, the trial court found that “completion” meant the setting and perforation of production casing.
The appeals court in Bledsoe overturned the trial court’s ruling that the term “completion” was ambiguous. Citing to a number of authorities that the ordinary accepted usage in the oil and gas industry of the word “completion” meant the well was “capable or ready to produce gas,” the court reasoned that term was meant in its ordinary and accepted meaning in the oil and gas industry. As a result, the completion date occurred after the hydraulic fracturing treatment rather than on the date the casing was set and perforated, keeping the lease alive for the drilling of a subsequent well.
Well Casing Prices
The Bledsoe decision has application for leases in unconventional oil and gas areas where hydraulic fracturing is the norm. In Arkansas, the decision may provide some secondary authority for similarly worded leases. Additionally, the case may serve as secondary authority that “completion” as used in the statutory Pugh Clause should occur upon the hydraulic fracturing treatment rather than upon the setting and perforation of casing.
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