Help! New well has poison smelling water

[beppington]

In case anybody else didn't know this (I sure didn't), I found step-by-step Procedure for Sanitation of Private Water System (Well Shock Instructions) from my local health department:

1. Mix 2 gallons of household bleach/chlorine with approximately the same amount of water in a plastic container. AVOID INHALING FUMES.
2. Turn off pump switch
3. Remove cap or plug at top of well casing and pour the bleach/chlorine and water mixture into the well using a plastic funnel or similar device.
4. Replace well cap or plug and ensure that it is airtight.
5. Start pump.
6. Turn on the faucet/spigot closet to the well and let the water run until you can smell bleach/chlorine, then shut that faucet/spigot off. Repeat this procedure at each faucet/spigot outside and inside the house (including showers/tubs), working from the well to the furthest faucet/spigot. Flush all toilets once.
7. Allow the bleach/chlorine mixture to remain in the system for a minimum of four hours. We recommend that the solution be left in the system over night.
8. After the minimum four hours have elapsed, open up all the faucets/spigots (one at a time) and allow them to run until odor has dissipated.
9. Use this system for 3-5 days then collect another sample from the same two locations as was tested previously, even if one of the samples was satisfactory.

 

[dmccarty]

I am surprised the well driller did not put bleach in the well. They do that in my area.

Later,
Dan

 

[beersngars]

In case anybody else didn't know this (I sure didn't), I found step-by-step Procedure for Sanitation of Private Water System (Well Shock Instructions) from my local health department:

1. Mix 2 gallons of household bleach/chlorine with approximately the same amount of water in a plastic container. AVOID INHALING FUMES.
2. Turn off pump switch
3. Remove cap or plug at top of well casing and pour the bleach/chlorine and water mixture into the well using a plastic funnel or similar device.
4. Replace well cap or plug and ensure that it is airtight.
5. Start pump.
6. Turn on the faucet/spigot closet to the well and let the water run until you can smell bleach/chlorine, then shut that faucet/spigot off. Repeat this procedure at each faucet/spigot outside and inside the house (including showers/tubs), working from the well to the furthest faucet/spigot. Flush all toilets once.
7. Allow the bleach/chlorine mixture to remain in the system for a minimum of four hours. We recommend that the solution be left in the system over night.
8. After the minimum four hours have elapsed, open up all the faucets/spigots (one at a time) and allow them to run until odor has dissipated.
9. Use this system for 3-5 days then collect another sample from the same two locations as was tested previously, even if one of the samples was satisfactory.

This is the procedure I used on my newly drilled well at our cabin. My understanding was that the clorine would disinfect the pipes and so forth. Not sure it does anything to the well it self. Anybody know more on this?

 

[gator]

When I did repair work to my PVC pipes on my well I could taste and smell the PVC cement in the water for a day or two afterwards. Could this be what you smell?

 

[captaincrab55]

I am surprised the well driller did not put bleach in the well. They do that in my area.

Later,
Dan

Depends on who installed the Pump... The one that installs the Pump should chlorinate the well...

 

[Carl_NH]

I have done this on two wells here after replacing pumps I have two 5 gallon buckets - pour a mix of two gallons of bleach/two gallons of water down the well, followed by a five gallon pail of water to flush the beach off the casing. Let it stand for bit then open the faucets and allow to kill all the bacteria in the pipes.

For your case I would get a few water containers run the well for 30 min and take a sample at the well head, then do the treatment and run again after 24 hours. It will take a while to clear the bleach from the water - usually a day or so its gone.

The other thing i wanted to mention pre treatment is put a sprinkler off the well head with a plastic pan in the area of the sprinkler and let it run and collect the water for a bit - an inch or two in the container. If it doesnt smell once aereated/oxygenated in this way you may be able to narrow down your issue as mentioned earlier areation is one way to clean up a foul well. (or the very worst case you have hydrocarbons that evaporate quickly)

 

[beppington]

When I did repair work to my PVC pipes on my well I could taste and smell the PVC cement in the water for a day or two afterwards. Could this be what you smell?

No, I know the smell of PVC cement. While that's bad stuff, this smell isn't it.

 

[beppington]

Depends on who installed the Pump... The one that installs the Pump should chlorinate the well...

Same guy did the whole thing, drilled, installed casing, pump, wiring, set the tank, plumbed it all ... the whole sha-bang.

 

[captaincrab55]

How deep is the well??

 

[thatguy]

im in for the resolution..
brian