For Immediate Release Contact: Levy County
August
3, 2015 Health
Department
ESF 8 Levy
County Emergency
Management 352-486-5300
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN Levy COUNTY REMINDS RESIDENTS OF DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH
FLOODED Private WELLS
Common unscented
household bleach (4 to 6%) can be used effectively as a chlorine disinfectant.
Add 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) of unscented household bleach per gallon of
water, then let stand for 30 minutes, repeating the procedure if the water is
still cloudy. An alternative disinfecting method involves bringing water to a
rolling boil for one minute.
If your well has
been flooded, please call the Levy County Health Department for information on
how to sample your water and where to bring the sample for bacteriological
testing. If the test reveals bacteria, the well and water system need to be
disinfected.
It is important to disinfect both well and plumbing water with unscented
household bleach to ensure that all
infectious agents are destroyed. If you have water treatment devices, remove
all membranes, cartridges, and filters and replace them after the chlorination
process is completed. The amount of
chlorine determines the length
of time you allow the bleach to remain in your system.
DOH recommends the
following steps to disinfect a contaminated well:
- If the water is discolored before adding
the bleach, run the water until it is clear for up to 10 minutes.
- Turn off and then drain your hot
water heater— bleach is not effective in water above 105 degrees.
- Remove and replace charcoal
filters after the disinfecting process is completed.
- To avoid adding contamination to the well
during disinfection, clean the work area around the top of the well. Then
remove grease and mineral deposits from accessible parts of the well head
and flush the outside surfaces with 1/2 cup of unscented household bleach
in 5 gallons of water.
- Turn off the pump. Remove
the cap or the well plug on the rubber seal. There are many types of well
caps and plugs. If you have questions, you should contact a licensed well
driller. If you have a submersible pump, you may also want to contact a
licensed well driller for advice on disinfection procedures.
-
Consult the bleach chart and pour the
recommended amount of unscented bleach (4 to 6%) solution into the
well. Try to coat the sides of the
casing as you pour. If you get bleach on the pump or wiring, flush it
thoroughly with fresh water to prevent later corrosion.
BLEACH CHART
Well Depth in Feet
Well Diameter in Inches
2” 4” 5” 6”
Amount
of Bleach to Use
20’ 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup
1 cup
30’ 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup
2 cups
40’ 1 cup 1 cup 2 cups
2 cups
50’ 1 cup 2 cups 2 cups
3 cups
80’ 1 cup 2 cups 1 qt
1 qt
100’ 1 cup 3 cups 1 qt
1.5 qts
150’ 2 cups 1 qt 2 qts 2.5 qts
200’ 3 cups 1.5 qts 2.5 qts
3 qts
Conversions 8 oz = 1 cup /16 oz = 1 pint = 2 cups
24 oz = 3 cups / 32 oz = 1 quart / 48 oz = 1.5 quarts
64 oz = 2 quarts / 80 oz = 2.5 quarts / 96 oz = 3 quarts
- Re-cap or plug the well opening and
wait 30 minutes.
- Turn on and, if needed, re-prime the
pump. Open all of the faucets on the system one at a time. Allow the
water to run until there is a noticeable smell of bleach. You may also
want to flush the toilets. If you have outside faucets, you may want to
direct the water away from sensitive plants. If you cannot detect a bleach
odor, repeat the disinfecting process.
- Turn off all of the faucets and allow the
bleach to remain in the system for at least eight hours.
- Backwash water softeners, sand
filters, and iron removal filters with bleach water.
- Again, open all the faucets and run the
water until there is no bleach smell—for up to 15 minutes.
After disinfecting
your well, the water needs to be tested to verify that it is safe to drink.
Although unscented household bleach is effective against microorganisms, it
will not remove chemical contamination that may have gotten into your well.
Contact the Levy County Health Department at 352-486-5300 for sampling
instructions to get your water tested for chemicals if you are concerned. Chemical sampling fees have not been waived
at this time.
For further
information, please visit www.doh.state.fl.us
or www.FloridaDisaster.org.
The
Public Information
Emergency Support Function: 850-921-0384
###