My well water has a rusty color and is dirty. How do i fix it?

Question

it also has a rusty smell. I heard that it could be going dry, but how do i know for sure?

Answer 1

That is why they invented filters. Use one gallon of bleach in the well. That will make it usable.

Answer 2

Rusty Well Water

Answer 3

Your well water is being contaminated somehow, by surface water runoff, perhaps some source like rain water that is laying in nearby ditches.
If it is rusty-coloured you have iron in the water.

If your well is a surface-water shallow well, there might not be a fix for it other than filtration. If it is a deeper type of well that used to have clean ground-water or spring-water in it all the time, it has developed a contamination point somehow.

If it gets worse right after a RAIN, you can pretty much be sure that the rainwater (surface water) is getting into the well.

Make sure the well tiles (concrete or steel) are sealed against any outside water, like rain water or puddles of water that might run in. Fill in any depressions around the tile and raise the grade so that water does not lay against the tile on the ground level. If there are any old water line trenches going to the well that have sunken in, fill them in.

If you have a good tight-fitting and secure well lid, and have finally determined what the problem was, you need to pump out the contaminated water.
Pump the water out, and put a cup of bleach into the well as it starts to fill up---, and allow the well to fill up overnight. Test the water.

If the well is properly sealed and you still have the problem, the 'ground water' may be contaminated in your area. You will need to get a filtration system.
Most certainly have the water TESTED for coliform bacteria before you drink it.
Fecal coliform (e.coli) and other bacterial contamination can make people very sick. It comes from sewage or from contaminated surface water. You can also have chemical contaminants in the water if surface water is getting into your well.

Answer 4

It could be several problems, one answer is almost right. Iron bacteria, a chemical from hard water. You cannot get rid of this through a conditioner, don't let anyone fool you. Iron bacteria is just a name for iron hard water the will have a chemical that turns black when the sunlight hits it. You can determine how hard it is by leaving it stand in the sun, the sun will turn the water black within minutes or hours. You can't wash white clothes in it. You can't cook anything with high starch like potatoes in it. It turns everything black.

You might need a well cleaning. Do not put bleach down your well. You'll be sorry, you won't be able to drink the water for weeks.

If in doubt, call in a professional well dealer, like a driller or someone that can clean the well, that deals in pumps and wells.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
My well water has a rusty color and is dirty. How do i fix it?

Answer 6

You may just have what we had, it is an iron bacteria (harmless) and every so often it cuts loose from the lines coming from the well and makes the water cloudy for a short period of time. We installed a water softener and have no longer been bothered by it but we will occasionally need to put some iron out through the softener when it regenerates.
If you are in need of a softener I bought mine from a on line sales for a lot less than the cullagan, etc. sell them for, like 1/2 price.

Answer 7

It is not rust in your water it is minerals. Well water tends to have alot of iron. If you don't clean your shower walls for a few days they probably will start turning a rusty-gold color. Not to mention what it does to your white clothes. Try calling Culligan or your gas company and getting a water softener. DO NOT POUR BLEACH INTO YOUR WELL! You do drink that water and cook with it don't you? I don't have to take an iron supliment because we have so much iron in our water.

Answer 8

most likely it is full of sand.. if the sediments in the bottom of a glass of the well water is not fine sand.. then it is probably contaminated.. if you can't tell for sure, have it checked by the county agent in your area or the health dept.. if it is just sand.. a filter will do the trick.. but you will need to be carefull about what kind of filter you employ.. again ask the county agent ( FYI, a county agent is a federal government agent that can be found in the nearest federal courthouse).. good luck

Answer 9

Try not using any water for a day or two. You could be low in water. If it still is rusty, then you need your well lined. Sounds costly.