WELL CHLORINATION PUMP OFF INSTRUCTIONS IN FAIRFAX STATION, VIRGINIA
CHLORINE PUMP OFF INSTRUCTIONS (after a well has been chlorinated)
(I M P O R T AN T - PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AVOID DEALING WITH SOME AVOIDABLE PLUMBING ISSUES)
After your well has been chlorinated, and the chlorine has been left to set in well and plumbing system for 24 hours, you may begin the chlorine elimination process. Start by running an outside hose, directing the hose away from septic and well areas, and run for 10-15 minutes out of a 60 minute period (aka – “pump off”). (NO Faucets should be run inside until all chlorine has been eliminated from the well via an outside hose). REPEAT
this pump off process as many times as it takes until you do not smell or taste chlorine anymore. IT can take several days, with several pump offs to eliminate the chlorine totally and the sediment that may break loose; depending how often you are able to do them, and how muddy your well is (some wells have more sediment than others). DO NOT OVERPUMP
your well by leaving a hose to run, as this could temporarily pump the well dry and possibly damage your pump (it is helpful to set a timer to be a reminder).
Once you can no longer smell or taste the chlorine from the
outside hose and the water looks fairly clear, you will need to take turns
running each spigot inside for a minute or two each (hot and cold), and flush
all toilets to do a final clearing of all of your plumbing lines. Clear each faucet one at a time, starting
with the ones that have no screens, i.e. bathtub nozzles, laundry sink faucets
that have no screens, & any other outdoor hose bibs. SAVE
running the
shower heads, and running an empty wash load for the last of the inside
clearing process, as these screens are harder to get to if it becomes necessary
to clear them of any grit.
*PLEASE NOTE:
If this
house is occupied during the 24 hour chlorine holding period, and until the
chlorine has been pumped off, it is advisable that you stick to one toilet in
the household for minimal toilet flushing to try to avoid grit being drawn into
any other toilets in the home.
*DO NOT DRINK OR BATHE
in the water until the chlorine has
been pumped off.
*Make sure ALL chlorine has been cleared before doing any laundry
so that you do not bleach colored clothes, or stain white clothes from the mud
and sediment that can sometimes break loose during this process.
*If you have any water filtration equipment, which is
normally by-passed at the time of your initial well chlorination, you will need
to un-by-pass them AFTER
you are fairly sure the chlorine has been eliminated,
to put them back in service. (The reason
for by-passing any existing filtration equipment for this procedure is to
prevent them from getting stopped up as the chlorine begins to clean the well
and pipes of any sediment that may have accumulated) Following these instructions can help avoid problems such as
clogged screens, valves, and filters ~ especially for wells that do have a lot
of sediment, and may avoid having to call a plumber in if this does become a
problem.