# How to Disinfect a Well With a Holding Tank
Bacteria from ground water runoff can contaminate household wells in times of heavy rain. If your well becomes contaminated, you'll need to chlorinate it to kill off bacteria. You'll need to disinfect the holding tank as well. Periodic water testing will tell you if your well suffers new contamination. You may also wish to install a filter on your household faucet to remove more bacteria as well as chlorine.
Things You'll Need
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Chlorine bleach
- Water
- Scrub brush
Instructions
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1
Shut off the well pump. If your well does not have a shut-off at the well head, turn the breaker that supplies power to the well to "Off."
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2
Open the valve to drain the holding tank. Use a wet-dry vacuum to siphon out any water remaining once you've drained the tank.
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3
Mix a solution of ½ gallon of bleach to five gallons of water, and use this to scrub out the holding tank. Rinse the tank and vacuum dry again.
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4
Add three pints of bleach to the tank for each 100 gallons of water it holds. Close the tank and restart the well. Allow the holding tank to fill with water. The bleach in the tank will kill the bacteria in the water.
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5
Refrain from using the water in the well for at least two hours (and preferably overnight.)
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1
Plumbing
- How to Disinfect a Disposal
- How to Fix a Flapper Flush Valve With a Weak Flush
- How to Pressurize A Well Tank
- How to Flush an Extrol Water Well Tank
- How to Fix Holes in a Rusty Water Tank
- How to Hook Sprinklers to a Well
- How to Set Up a Pressure Tank for a Water Well
- Well Water Holding Tank Materials
- How to Treat a Well Contaminated with Total Coliform
- How to Disinfect Drinking Glasses With Clorox
- How to Drill a Water Well With a Post Auger
- How to Size a Well Pump & Pressure Tank
