If you’ve been having problems with your well water, it may be due to E. coli contamination. This bacteria can cause serious health issues, so it’s important to remove it as soon as possible.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to get rid of E. coli using chlorine and bleach.

1. How to remove e coli from well water using chlorine

If you’re not already using a chlorination system, this is the cheapest way to get rid of your E. coli problem

You’ll need to buy some pool shock, which you can find at any grocery store or pool supply store, as well as a diffuser to release the chlorine into your well water.

Pool shock can kill any bacteria in your water, so it’s safe to use even if you have other animals on your property

There are two ways you can distribute pool shock using a chlorinator:

Attach it directly to the well pump or pressure tank to distribute chlorine throughout your well water system Use it as a soak by placing the shock in a bucket of water overnight. If you choose this approach, be sure to run your well pump for several minutes after shocking so that all water is treated

2. How to remove e coli from well water using bleach

To use bleach as a well water treatment, you will need to first purchase a filter that can remove chlorine from your tap water.

You will then need the following items:

  • Cleaner – chlorine or bleach
  • Face mask
  • Toilet bowl cleaner/detergent
  • Water hose, water pump, or whichever system you use to pump well water from your well to your home’s tap
  • Water filter
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Then follow the steps below:

Run a hose or pump from your well to the tap where you have clean water.

  1. Remove the filter from its housing and place it somewhere other than your well pit or pump room.
  2. Connect an empty container to the clean-water line
  3. Fill the container with bleach or chlorine. Be careful not to inhale this chemical by wearing a face mask for protection.
  4. Attach a hose to the container and place it in your well pit or pump room .
  5. Run the water pump for several minutes, then turn off the power
  6. Drain as much as possible from the reservoir tank
  7. Reattach your filter to its housing unit and let it run for a few days. This will remove any remaining chlorine from the system

Continue monitoring your well water, and if you do not see improvements within a week, consult a specialist for assistance.

Replace the filter every two weeks.

This is especially important if you have an increased chlorine concentration or experience any other changes to your well water quality at this time.

Is it common to have E. coli in well water?

It’s not uncommon to find E. coli bacteria in well water. In fact, according to the EPA, it’s likely that some amount of E. coli will be present in any well water sample.

While most strains of this bacteria are harmless, some can cause health problems, so it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of exposure.

E. coli is a type of bacteria that can cause intestinal illness in humans. If you have well water, it’s important to test it for bacteria regularly and take steps to protect yourself and your family from potential contamination.

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In some cases, well water may be contaminated by human or animal feces if E. coli are discovered. When work is done on the well, bacteria might get into it if it wasn’t built correctly, or because of nearby animal or human waste sources.

How long does it take to get E. coli out of a water system?

It will depend on how much bacteria is currently present in your well water system. If you have only recently discovered the E. coli in your plumbing, then it may be easy to clear out with one or two treatments.

Otherwise, it will take some time to reduce the bacteria in your system to safe levels.

You can expect this process to take several days or weeks by using chlorine, and up to a month if you choose the soaking method.

How do you get bacteria out of well water?

You can use bleach or pool shock as well water treatments for E. coli, but it will require some advance planning on your part.

If you are able to disconnect your plumbing from the power supply, then choosing the soak method is probably the simplest.

Otherwise, it’s easiest to use a chlorinator attached directly to your pressure tank or pump system so that all water being pulled into your home is treated automatically with chlorine.

Do any water filters remove E. coli?

Some charcoal and carbon-based filters will remove certain types of bacteria as well as chlorine from your water supply. If you have a whole-house filtration system, then it is likely that the filter will remove at least some amount of organic matter, including E. coli bacteria

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However, it’s best to consult with a specialist to find out which filtration solution is right for your needs

Every situation is different, so there’s no one size fits all approach to fixing a contaminated well system – but using bleach or pool shock might just do the trick.

Final Thoughts

If you are unable to clear your well system of E. coli using home methods, then call a plumber or specialist for help.

You can also ask them about installing a water purifying filtration unit on your system – this will protect against bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants in the future

It’s important to note that bleach does lose its potency over time, especially when exposed to sunlight. It’s best to keep it stored inside if possible

And make sure you use only regular household bleach marked with sodium hypochlorite as active ingredients. Formulas without this ingredient may not be effective against the types of bacteria you’re trying to remove from private well supplies.

About the author

I started working as a quality control manager with the Water Authority of Nassau County in 2005. After a few years, I moved into Water Waste Prevention, where I currently work as the production supervisor. I love my job and the people I work with, but most of all I love spending time with my family.