If the owner of the backyard has doubts about the purity of the water in the source, or an examination has confirmed that it is unsuitable for consumption, it is imperative to disinfect the drinking water well. This liquid is dangerous to eat and may contain pathogens. Well cleaning and maintenance should be carried out efficiently and regularly.
In what situations may you need to disinfect water in a well
Well disinfection includes several stages: cleaning the source shaft and disinfecting the contents. Without exception, all sources, regardless of the frequency of use and their purpose, must be cleaned.
The main reasons why you need to regularly disinfect:
- the presence of debris, dust and other third-party items in the well;
- flooding due to spring flood;
- the formation of mucus, fungal and salt deposits, mold on the walls of the mine;
- getting into the source of melt, rain or sewage;
- active use of the well, as a result of which there is a subsidence of the aquifer of the soil;
- penetration into the soil of sewage, products of processing of agricultural and industrial enterprises;
- bodies of dead animals and birds entering the well.
Water with an unpleasant odor is unsuitable for food consumption, and sometimes for domestic purposes. Therefore, it is recommended to clean and decontaminate the source regularly.
Preparation for disinfection
The quality and speed of the work performed will largely depend on the correctness of the preparatory measures.
First of all, you need to completely pump out the liquid from the well using a pump. If water is scarce, a surface pumping station is sufficient. If the liquid level is impressive, more powerful submersible models will be required. Before turning on the equipment, you need to remove floating debris from the mirror; this can be done using a net with a long handle.
After emptying the source, they lower themselves into the well and examine the bottom and walls for cracks and other damage. If cracks are found, they are treated with a special waterproofing solution. Also, mucus, fungus, silt, algae and debris are removed from the walls.
For preparatory work, you will need hard brushes and spatulas. Sediment is removed at the bottom of the well and, if possible, the bottom backfill is replaced with a new one. To do this, use sand, gravel or fine gravel.
If plaque has formed on the concrete rings, it is also removed. For this, various industrial and folk remedies are used, the combination of components of which depends on the nature of the origin of the deposits. For example, salt deposits are removed with preparations containing hydrochloric acid, or table vinegar diluted with vinegar essence.
It is better to remove foci of corrosion with a grinder or a jackhammer, the surface must also be treated with a special anti-corrosion compound. If mold foci are actively formed, the entire surface is treated with copper sulfate.
Effective disinfection methods
An industrial or folk remedy for purifying water in a well must have the following characteristics:
- The remnants of the industrial composition are easily removed.
- Effectively destroy pathogenic microflora and pathogens, have pronounced antibacterial properties.
- Be safe for human health.
- Do not have a destructive effect on the walls of the mine.
After using industrial compositions for pumping out water, it is recommended to use an old pump, which may fail and it will not be a pity to part with it.
Well water disinfection tablets
The industrial market offers a convenient chlorine-based well cleaner in tablet form.
Average consumption per well is 4 tablets, previously dissolved in a bucket of clean water. The exact dosage can be calculated using the enclosed instructions for use.
The disinfection process is carried out in two stages:
- The preparatory stage includes pumping out water, removing dirt from the walls and bottom. After that, the walls are irrigated with the resulting solution. The active composition is left on the surface of the walls for half an hour, and then the residues are washed off with clean water.
- Disinfection of water. Pills are added to the well filled with water. Leave for 6-12 hours, then pump out the water until the smell of bleach disappears.
The main disadvantages of the drug can be attributed only to the high cost.
Potassium permanganate solution
To prepare a disinfecting solution, you will need 10 liters of water and 1 tbsp. manganese. The components are mixed until a homogeneous state is obtained, the water turns pink. Pour it into the well and leave the composition for half an hour or an hour, then several times you need to pump out the water.
After cleaning, the dry walls of the well are cleaned with a brush, and a net with manganese is placed on the bottom to provide a disinfecting and antibacterial effect. Alternatively, you can use silicon chips, which also have a pronounced antibacterial effect.
Iodine
It is better to give preference to more thorough cleaning and disinfection of water, but if this is not possible, you can resort to this method. It is simple to implement. You need to prepare a solution - 3 drops of iodine for 1 liter of water - and pour it into the mine. Thanks to this simple action, with regular implementation, it will be possible to significantly improve the chemical composition of the well water and delay the cleaning of the source.
Preventive measures
Preventive disinfection of the well should be carried out at least once a year.
To further prevent water pollution, the following preventive measures must be taken:
- Arrangement of a clay castle. To do this, you need to dig a trench near the well with a depth of no more than 2 m and a width of 0.5 m, densely clog it with clay, making a small angle of inclination. This method will prevent moisture and dirt from entering the soil, which can penetrate the source itself through the seams between the rings.
- Manufacturing of a high-quality bottom filter. It is made from a layer with a thickness of at least 10 cm of flint gravel and 20 cm of a mineral of volcanic origin - zeolite. Before backfilling, the raw materials must be washed with clean running water.
- Making a roof over a well or building a "house". They will prevent dirt and dust from entering the mine.
Preventive measures will help reduce the frequency of cleanings and the rate at which the water is contaminated at the source. The bottom filter needs to be replaced regularly.
