|
Maintaining
Your Well and Water System
- The well casing should be examined
periodically to make sure the well cap is properly sealed. A tight seal
prevents material from entering and contaminating the well.
- The well and the distribution system should
be disinfected after any repairs or alterations in the system, such as
replacement or installation of a pump, water heater, softener, sink or
filter.
If your system has a softener:
- Salt is to a softener what gasoline is to a
car. Ask your dealer/vendor what type of salt to use to ensure efficient
recharging of the unit.
- Always have an adequate supply of salt on
hand.
- A brine or salt storage tank should always
be covered to prevent dirt and other foreign material from entering the
tank.
- Check the salt level of your brine tank
periodically.
- Add salt to your brine tank before the salt
level falls below the water level (bottom one-third of tank). Fill the tank
approximately three-fourths full.
- Brine tanks require periodic disinfection
no matter what kind of salt you are using. Add about half a cup of bleach to
the tank. The brine tank should have water in it to carry the solution into
the softener. Finally, proceed with regeneration.
If you have a home filtration unit such as an
activated carbon filter:
- You should periodically replace the
carbon canisters. If not, the filter’s material can provide a growth surface
for certain bacteria.
If you have another treatment device:
- Whether you have a point of use (POU)
or point of entry (POE) unit, all treatment devices require periodic
maintenance to operate effectively. If they are not properly maintained,
contaminants may accumulate in the unit and could actually make your water
worse.
For seasonal systems:
-
At the end of the season,
make sure all lines are drained and the hot water heater is emptied. At the
start of a new season (early spring), completely disinfect the well and the
plumbing system. Disinfection should eliminate potentially harmful bacteria
and viruses from the water. If you need information about how to disinfect
your well, ask your Minnesota Department of Health sanitarian or call the
MDH at 651.215.0770.
For technical assistance call
Minnesota Rural Water Association
800.367.6792 - Fax: 218.685.5272
E-mail: mrwa@mrwa.com |