Well Disinfection

 

 

Water Bottle Testing

 

 

The Township Office is a Depot for Elgin St. Thomas Public Health for testing your well water.  We accept water samples for testing on Mondays (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) and Tuesdays (8:30-10:00 a.m.).  The samples are picked up on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. sharp by the Public Health.

 

You can pick up your free water sample bottle at the Township Office during regular business hours. 

 

  

Well Disinfection

 

The following information has been provided by Elgin St. Thomas Public Health.  Please direct any inquiries directly to Public Health at 519-631-9900.

Drinking water is usually obtained from the groundwater table through the establishment of a dug well constructed of concrete tile rings (as shown on the reverse), a drilled well, or a sand point well - the latter two being constructed of steel piping.  In order to protect your well, contaminated water from tile drains, livestock operations and roof eaves must be directed away from it.

Water in a dug well which is of brick construction, is susceptible to contamination unless the joints between each course of brick are sealed (down to a depth of 3 m or 10 feet).

When drinking water is contaminated, it can be disinfected by following the directions described below:

CHLORINE REQUIRED FOR:

 

Dug Well

            Sandpoint or Drilled Well

            (.9 m [3 feet] diam)

            (up to 15 cm [6 inch] diam)

            Water Depth

            Household Bleach 5%

            Water Depth

            Household Bleach 5%

            Meters

            Feet

            Litres

            Quarts

            Meters

            Feet

            ml

            Ounces

            1.5

            5

            1.1

            1

            7.6

            25

            140

            5

            3.0

            10

            2.2

            2

            15.0

            50

            280

            10

            4.5

            15

            3.3

            3

            22.8

            75

            420

            15

            6.0

            20

            4.4

            4

            30.0

            100

            560

            20

            7.5

            25

            5.5

            5

            38.0

            125

            700

            25

            9.0

            30

            6.6

            6

            45.0

            150

            840

            30

            10.5

            35

            7.7

            7

            53.0

            175

            980

            35

            12.0

            40

            8.8

            8

            61.0

            200

            1120

            40

 

Mix with several litres of water and then add to well - an approximate concentration of 150 parts per million of Free Available Chlorine will be produced.

After the chlorinated solution is added to the well, turn on all inside cold water taps to draw the well water into the pressure system (a smell of chlorine should be noticeable at the taps).  Then, allow the water in the well and distribution system to remain standing for several hours (overnight should be sufficient) in order to obtain an effective destruction of coliform bacteria.

The heavily-chlorinated water should not be used for personal uses and the contents of the well and distribution system should be run to waste until the strong smell of chlorine disappears.  DO NOT INVOLVE YOUR SEPTIC TANK AND LEACHING BED.  Allow three (3) to five (5) days to pass before submitting a sample for laboratory testing, and until satisfactory results are available, you should continue to boil (for five (5) minutes), or batch chlorinate your drinking water needs (two (2) drops of household bleach added to one (1) litre of water - stir and allow to stand for 15 minutes).