3.09.2009

A shocked well - and household

Our water source is an underground well. It is rich in minerals and nutrients, and tastes better than purified water in cities and neighbourhoods - except at a certain time of year. That certain time of the year happens to be spring. And here is the reason:
Every spring, we shock our well. This means pouring a gallon or so of bleach into the water of our well, and letting it circulate through all the hoses, sinks, bath tubs, toilets, etc. The reason? To purge our water of bacteria.
Here is the pattern:

DAY 1: Bleach water around sunset. Run water through sinks. Smell water. Wonder why it doesn't smell like bleach yet.

DAY 2: Run more water. Reel at the reeking smell of bleach. Circulate water through bathroom by taking shower. Compare the new scents created by various soaps mixed with bleach-water. Come out of shower with sense of smell blasted out of nose. Smell bleach in hair (when smell comes back) for the remainder of day. Water at this time is undrinkable.

DAY 3: Feel sick at the scent of bleach. Perhaps the scent is fading a little bit?

DAY 4: Depending on water usage, bleach may have been entirely flushed through. Or the house still reminds one of a laundry room.

DAY 5: Either water bears slight trace of bleach, or water clean and pure.

DAY 6: Water tastes good. If bleach-smell continues to this day, you have added too much bleach to well. Go buy a new one.

This is the cycle, if memory serves correctly. This is day 2, right now. It feels like day 50.

1 comment:

~Lauraborialice said...

I am sorry that happens.. =( Hope you don't smell terrible if you have to go somewhere..