How to Shock Your Water Well: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Homeowners

When your well water is bad-smelling, it is not tasting good or has tested bacteria-positive, then it is time to shock your well. Shocking of a water well refers to the process of disinfecting water wells with chlorine in order to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may pollute your water supply.

The process is not so complicated that the majority of homeowners cannot do it safely with the appropriate materials and guidelines.

We will discuss what shocking a well means, why this is important and how you can shock a well in a step-by-step manner. We will also provide the tips to ensure the process is safe and effective.

What is the Meaning of Shocking a Well?

Shocking a well is simply a process of putting a strong chlorine solution-either household bleach or well specific sanitizer-into your well in order to disinfect it. The chlorine kills bacteria like E. coli and coliforms among other bacteria which might have gotten into your system.

It is a temporary and good way of purifying your well water and distribution system.

Shocking is often used after:

● The bacterial test of your water is positive.

● Your well may have been flooded or heavily rained and therefore contaminated.

● Repairs or new installations, e.g. new pump, plumbing.

● Maintenance is normally performed after a major storm or once a year.

Why You Should Shock Your Well

It is imperative to maintain the health of your family by keeping your well water clean.

Shocking your well helps:

● Destroy pathogens and bacteria.

● Enhance the taste and smell of organic deposits.

● Stop disease through contaminated water.

● Conserve the water quality at home.

Although your water may appear clear, there may be some hidden pollutants in it. This is why it is important to conduct regular tests and disinfections.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before you begin, gather these materials:

Supplies

● Odorless domestic bleach (5-6% sodium hypochlorite)

● Do not apply splashless, scented or color-safe bleach

● Clean bucket (5 gallons size suggested)

● Old clothes, goggles, and rubber gloves

● Garden hose (attached to your well system)

● Measuring cup or container

● Water testing kit (to be used in post-treatment testing).

Safety Precautions

● Do not keep children and pets when doing it.

● Breathing of bleach fumes should be avoided.

● Do not combine bleach with other chemicals.

By passing through a shock, bypass the softener or filter used on the well in case you have a water softener or filter.

Step-by-Step: How to Shock Your Water Well

Let us have a look at the process in detail.

Step 1: Turn Off Power and Prepare

● Shut off the power to your well pump at the breaker box for safety.

● The second step is to take away the well cap.

In case your system has above ground casing, then clean the environs around the top so that the dirt does not fall inside.

Step 2: Calculate the Amount of Bleach

The quantity of bleach that you will require will depend on the depth and diameter of your well.

Here's a general guideline: 

Well Depth (ft)	4-inch casing	6-inch casing
50 ft	½ cup	1 cup
100 ft	1 cup	2 cups
200 ft	2 cups	4 cups

It is better to be a little underestimated than to use too much chlorine, which may ruin plumbing and rubber parts.

Step 3: Mix Bleach Solution

● Measure 10 gallons of clean water and pour them into your clean bucket with the measured bleach.

● Slowly pour in your mixture into your well casing.

This aids the distribution of the chlorine all over the system.

Step 4: Circulate the Chlorine

● Reconnect power to your pump.

● Choose any nearby outdoor faucet and attach a garden hose which will be used to pump the water back into the well until it takes approximately 15-20 minutes.

● Continue doing so until you smell chlorine very strongly of the hose water.

This circulation contributes to the distribution of chlorine in the whole water column and pipes.

Step 5: Flush Chlorine Through the Plumbing

● Open all the indoor and outside faucets one at a time until you can smell chlorine in each tap.

● Be sure to use showers, toilets and outdoor spigots.

● When you have smelled that there is chlorine everywhere, turn off all faucets.

● Allow the system to rest in the chlorinated water between 8 to 12 hours preferably overnight.

It is important not to use the water at this period.

Step 6: Flush the System

● Once the waiting time is over, use an outdoor hose (not in a septic system) of water until you can no longer smell of chlorine.

● This process can take a number of hours.

● Next, turn on the faucets inside the house until the chlorine smell is eliminated.

Tip: Do not pour a lot of chlorinated water to your sewage or lawn, as the bleach can destroy the useful ones.

Step 7: Test Your Water

● Wait 7 to 10 days upon shocking, and take a sample of water to test.

● A home water test kit can be bought or sent to a local health department or certified lab.

In case the test result remains positive of bacteria, repeat the shocking procedure or refer to the professional well service.