Take the top off your well casing (carefully—it might be heavy or rusty). Pour your bleach-water mixture down the hole. Imagine you’re pouring a spicy soup into a giant straw. Then, attach your garden hose to a nearby spigot and run water back down the well for 15-20 minutes to mix it all up.
You’re basically making a chlorine smoothie. Swirl, don’t blend. The goal is to get that bleach everywhere—casing, pipes, cracks, and crannies.
Warning: You will soon smell bleach coming out of every tap in your house. That’s a good sign. You’ll also probably get a little on your clothes. Wear old jeans. You have been warned.
Hose Down the Inside of Your House
Now, run all your cold-water faucets—one at a time—until you smell bleach at each one. Then turn them off. Don’t forget the outdoor spigots, the washing machine, and the toilet (just flush it a few times). You are coating your entire plumbing system in chlorine mist.
Let it sit. This is the waiting game. Don’t drink it, don’t shower in it, and don’t let your pets drink from the toilet (they’ll get a spicy surprise). For best results, leave the chlorinated water in the pipes for at least 12 hours. Overnight is perfect.
During this time, your well is basically a giant water balloon full of disinfectant. It’s working hard. You’re working hard. Take a nap.
