Continuous chlorination is an effective method used to disinfect private wells. It aims to eliminate disease-causing and nuisance bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. In addition to these, continuous chlorination can also oxidize iron and manganese, making them filterable, and reduces hydrogen sulfide nuisance odors.

Continuous chlorination involves installing a chemical feed pump that directly dispenses chlorine into the well. The required contact time is determined by chlorine concentration, pH, and water temperature. A lower level of chlorine concentration requires a longer contact time than a high concentration does.

A continuous chlorination system is often necessary when you have had multiple tests come back with positive for coliform bacteria and a source of contamination cannot be determined. It is also recommended that springs with coliform bacteria that are used as a primary drinking source use this treatment.

It is important to note that continuous chlorination should be done by following proper guidelines and safety precautions. Consult with your local health authority or a certified water treatment specialist for more information. The most important advice we can provide you is if you are going to add treatment to your home water system, be sure the treatment device has been certified to remove iron by an independent third-party certification organization.