Well Chlorination and Shocking Services in San Diego County

Discovering bacteria in your well water is alarming, but it's a problem that professional well chlorination can solve effectively. Also known as well shocking, this disinfection process uses chlorine to eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that may have contaminated your water supply. Southern California Well Service provides expert well chlorination services throughout San Diego County, restoring safe, clean water to homes and properties.

Whether you've received a positive coliform test, noticed changes in water taste or odor, or simply want to maintain your well's sanitary condition, proper chlorination requires the right concentration, contact time, and technique. Our experienced technicians ensure thorough disinfection while protecting your pumping equipment and plumbing system.

When Is Well Chlorination Needed?

Well chlorination isn't part of routine maintenance for most wells, but certain situations demand immediate disinfection. Understanding when to shock your well helps protect your family's health and prevents minor contamination from becoming a serious problem.

• Positive Bacteria Test: Any detection of coliform bacteria or E. coli requires immediate chlorination.
• New Well Construction: All newly drilled wells should be chlorinated before use.
• Pump Replacement or Repair: Any time the well is opened for service, disinfection prevents contamination.
• Flood Conditions: Surface water intrusion during floods can introduce bacteria.
• Sulfur Odors: Hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) often indicates bacterial activity.
• Taste or Odor Changes: Sudden changes in water quality warrant testing and possible treatment.
• Annual Maintenance: Some well owners prefer annual chlorination as preventive maintenance.
• Property Purchase: Chlorinating before occupying a property with an unused well.

Understanding Bacteria in Well Water

Not all bacteria in well water are harmful, but their presence often indicates a pathway for more dangerous organisms. Total coliform bacteria are commonly used as indicator organisms—their presence suggests that disease-causing bacteria could also enter the water supply.

E. coli is a specific type of coliform bacteria that lives in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Its presence in well water indicates fecal contamination, a serious health concern that requires immediate attention and thorough disinfection.

• Total Coliform: Environmental bacteria that indicate potential contamination pathways.
• Fecal Coliform: Bacteria specifically from animal or human waste.
• E. coli: Definitive indicator of fecal contamination—serious health risk.
• Iron Bacteria: Non-harmful but causes red/brown slime, staining, and odors.
• Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria: Creates hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg odor).

The Well Shocking Process

Effective well chlorination involves more than simply pouring bleach down the well. Proper shocking requires calculating the correct chlorine concentration, ensuring adequate contact time, and thoroughly flushing the system afterward. Here's how we approach well disinfection:

Step 1: Calculate Chlorine Requirements

The amount of chlorine needed depends on your well's depth, diameter, and water volume. We calculate the precise amount needed to achieve the target concentration (typically 50-200 parts per million) throughout the entire water column and plumbing system.

Step 2: Prepare the Well

Before adding chlorine, we may clean the well casing to remove biofilm and deposits that harbor bacteria. This step is especially important for wells with iron bacteria or visible slime buildup.

Step 3: Apply Chlorine Solution

We introduce a concentrated chlorine solution into the well, ensuring it reaches the bottom and saturates the entire water column. For deeper wells, we use weighted delivery systems to distribute chlorine throughout the bore.

Step 4: Circulate Through Plumbing

Bacteria don't just live in the well—they colonize pipes, fixtures, and water heaters. We run chlorinated water through every fixture until chlorine is detectable at each outlet, then close valves to allow contact time.

Step 5: Allow Contact Time

The chlorine solution remains in the system for 12-24 hours, allowing adequate time to kill bacteria throughout the well and plumbing. During this period, no water should be used.

Step 6: Flush the System

After the contact period, we thoroughly flush the system to remove all chlorine. This protects septic systems, landscaping, and ensures water is safe for consumption.

Step 7: Retest Water Quality

Approximately two weeks after chlorination, we recommend retesting to confirm bacteria have been eliminated. This waiting period ensures any surviving bacteria have time to multiply to detectable levels.

Special Considerations for San Diego Wells

San Diego County's unique hydrogeology presents specific challenges for well disinfection. Many local wells draw from fractured bedrock aquifers where bacteria can persist in fractures that chlorine may not fully penetrate. In these cases, repeated treatments or higher concentrations may be necessary.

Additionally, San Diego's warm climate accelerates bacterial growth. Wells that sit unused for extended periods—common with seasonal properties or vacation homes—are particularly susceptible to contamination and benefit from chlorination before returning to service.

Iron Bacteria Treatment

Iron bacteria are a special category of nuisance organisms that thrive in wells with elevated iron content. While not harmful to health, they create slimy, rust-colored deposits that clog pipes, stain fixtures, and produce unpleasant metallic tastes and odors.

Standard chlorination helps control iron bacteria, but severe infestations may require multiple treatments or specialized protocols. We often recommend physical cleaning of well components followed by aggressive chlorination to address established iron bacteria colonies.

• Signs of Iron Bacteria: Red/brown slime, clogged filters, metallic taste
• Treatment: Aggressive chlorination combined with physical cleaning
• Prevention: Periodic chlorination and proper well sealing

Sulfur Bacteria Treatment

Hydrogen sulfide—that unmistakable rotten egg odor—is often produced by sulfur-reducing bacteria living in oxygen-depleted portions of your well. While the odor is offensive, the bacteria themselves are typically not harmful. However, hydrogen sulfide can corrode plumbing and may indicate other water quality issues.

Chlorination oxidizes hydrogen sulfide and kills sulfur-reducing bacteria. For persistent sulfur problems, we may recommend ongoing treatment solutions like chlorination systems, aeration, or specialized filters.

Protecting Your Septic System

If your property uses a septic system, the chlorinated water flushed from your well and plumbing can harm beneficial bacteria in your septic tank. We take precautions to minimize this impact:

• Flush Outdoors: When possible, we flush chlorinated water away from the septic system.
• Gradual Discharge: Slow flushing prevents septic system shock.
• Septic Additives: We may recommend bacterial additives after major chlorination.
• Proper Dilution: Ensuring chlorine is adequately diluted before reaching the septic tank.

Preventing Future Contamination

Chlorination solves immediate contamination, but preventing future problems requires addressing how bacteria entered the well. Our technicians inspect wells during service to identify potential contamination pathways:

• Well Cap Condition: Damaged or loose caps allow insects and surface water entry.
• Casing Integrity: Cracked or corroded casing provides contamination pathways.
• Surface Grading: Proper drainage away from the wellhead prevents surface water intrusion.
• Sanitary Seal: The seal between casing and ground should be intact.
• Setback Distances: Adequate distance from septic systems and contamination sources.

DIY vs. Professional Chlorination

While homeowners can attempt well chlorination themselves, professional service offers significant advantages. Improper chlorine concentrations can fail to eliminate bacteria (too weak) or damage pump components and plumbing (too strong). Professional technicians understand the nuances that ensure effective, safe disinfection.

We recommend professional chlorination for initial treatments, positive E. coli tests, or any situation where health is at stake. Once a well is confirmed clean, some homeowners choose to perform routine preventive chlorination themselves with guidance from our team.

Concerned about bacteria in your well water? Contact Southern California Well Service at (760) 463-0493 or visit www.scwellservice.com for professional well chlorination service. We'll test your water, disinfect your well, and help prevent future contamination.