Shocking the well

[inafix]

We just bought our first home, and the well has coliform contamination. We were told this was because the house was vacant for 8 months, and that shocking the well would solve the problem. We were told to pour a gallon of clorox down the well, and run all the water until we smell bleach, then shut off the water and let sit for 24 hours.

We poured a gallon of clorox into the well and turned on the water, but even after an hour, could not smell bleach (only rotten eggs!). We poured another bottle of clorox in this morning before leaving for work.

(1) Is it possible that we need to run the water longer?
(2) Is it true that this contamination is likely from the house being vacant?

Any additional advice or experience with this would be appreciated. This is our first of many projects in our new fixerupper!

Thanks
Peter

[nomind]

Hi Peter, you sound as if you're doing almost the right thing, just not enough. - First, go to the pool store and buy a container of shock ( unstabilised chlorine granules, at least 65% free chlorine). Now prepare a hose to run from your nearest outside faucet to the wellhead. Get a CLEAN 5 gallon bucket, fill it with hot water, take to the wellhead. Now carefully (this will ruin good clothing) put about 2-3 ounces (a good handful) of the granules in the hot water and stir (with a clean implement) till it dissolves. Now run the hose into the wellhead, and listen for the pump starting. When it starts, pour all the mix into the well. The pump will now suck it up. Keep the hose running into the well till you detect chlorine coming from the hose. Now shut it off and go inside, run each faucet till you detect chlorine. ( i use tab detectors, also from pool or well store). When chlorine is in all lines, leave it 24 hrs. then flush out thouroughly, especially the clothes washer (give it at least 2 empty runs)
This is an almost foolproof method unless you have colossal contamination , Good luck :)