The Low-Tech Times

Private Well

After a positive coliform bacteria test, we performed a shock chlorination treatment on our well. A laboratory test two weeks later found the bacteria is now absent.

Virginia Tech has a good list of resources for private well owners, including instructions for shock chlorinating a well with household bleach.

Other tips we’d like to share from going through the process include:

1. Have a different person smell for chlorine in the house than the one mixing and pouring the bleach – it’s hard to detect the smell of chlorine after working with bleach. Alternatively, you can buy chlorine test strips – I found some affordable ones in the aquarium section of a pet store.
2. Be patient when detecting bleach. I might have added more bleach than necessary.