Deude Mann
New Member
Hello all. First time post. I have been reading up on different methods of well water chlorination and have a couple of questions about implementation of a chlorination system.
First, here is a simplified diagram of my well setup as it currently stands. This has been in place and operational for years.
Here are the details of my system...
This is a private well that is used for a single family residence. I want to add a chlorination system in order to deal with algae growth in the MAIN TANK (see above) and control general contamination; I understand that chlorination is not a cure-all but after reading up on the pros and cons of chlorine vs. ozone vs. UV, chlorine is what I would like to do.
The plan would be to purchase a chemical injection pump and connect it to the control circuit for the Well Pump so that the injection pump runs when the well pump is refilling the MAIN TANK. Based on measurements of residual chlorine, using a proper chlorine gauge, I would adjust the chlorination amount to hit a level for potable water, which I believe is 0.2 to 1 ppm (?).
The water this system produces runs through a resin-tank type water softener that is located in the main house. Our water here is really hard so the softener helps extend the life of the water heaters; it is common here for them to completely fill with calcium in 5-10 years, like someone filled it with concrete. I know I need to be careful with chlorine content with the water softener to protect the resin. It has a bypass that I use if I shock the well or the MAIN TANK.
The water post-softener is only used for bathing, washing clothes, flushing toilets, watering the yard, etc. The only water we drink, cook, or make ice with comes from a single point of use, under the sink, 5-stage RO system that is also post-softener.
I can do all of the chlorination system work myself since, shorting of pulling the pump from the well (requires a crane) I do all of the well plumbing and electrical work myself. I want to keep the initial equipment cost under $1000. From what I have seen there are injection pump-tank systems out there for much less than this, in the $300+ range.
The well pump produces about 600 gph when filling the MAIN TANK. This is based on a rough measurement I made recently when I filled the tank from completely empty to 2400 gallons. It took about 4 hours.
I hope that information makes sense. If not let me know and I will clarify.
Now the questions:
1. It seems to me that since there is a lot of storage time in the MAIN TANK that this is the point in the system where the chlorine should be added. This is by far, except possibly for the well itself, the most stagnant part of the system so the chlorine should have plenty of time to do its thing. Am I correct that this is the place to add the chlorine?
2. I would presumably use a chemical injection pump, with a chlorine holding tank, to add the chlorine into the system as it flows into the MAIN TANK. Does it make any significant difference if I inject the chlorine into the water line between the Well Pump and the MAIN TANK, or straight into the main tank?
3. Are there any additional suggestions as to what else I might add to this?
4. Any recommendation on which brand of injection pump I should be looking at? I'll pay extra to buy quality as long as it is not exorbitant. I'm not going to pay $10K for a nuclear power plant rated industrial pump for example.
Thanks in advance
First, here is a simplified diagram of my well setup as it currently stands. This has been in place and operational for years.
Here are the details of my system...
This is a private well that is used for a single family residence. I want to add a chlorination system in order to deal with algae growth in the MAIN TANK (see above) and control general contamination; I understand that chlorination is not a cure-all but after reading up on the pros and cons of chlorine vs. ozone vs. UV, chlorine is what I would like to do.
The plan would be to purchase a chemical injection pump and connect it to the control circuit for the Well Pump so that the injection pump runs when the well pump is refilling the MAIN TANK. Based on measurements of residual chlorine, using a proper chlorine gauge, I would adjust the chlorination amount to hit a level for potable water, which I believe is 0.2 to 1 ppm (?).
The water this system produces runs through a resin-tank type water softener that is located in the main house. Our water here is really hard so the softener helps extend the life of the water heaters; it is common here for them to completely fill with calcium in 5-10 years, like someone filled it with concrete. I know I need to be careful with chlorine content with the water softener to protect the resin. It has a bypass that I use if I shock the well or the MAIN TANK.
The water post-softener is only used for bathing, washing clothes, flushing toilets, watering the yard, etc. The only water we drink, cook, or make ice with comes from a single point of use, under the sink, 5-stage RO system that is also post-softener.
I can do all of the chlorination system work myself since, shorting of pulling the pump from the well (requires a crane) I do all of the well plumbing and electrical work myself. I want to keep the initial equipment cost under $1000. From what I have seen there are injection pump-tank systems out there for much less than this, in the $300+ range.
The well pump produces about 600 gph when filling the MAIN TANK. This is based on a rough measurement I made recently when I filled the tank from completely empty to 2400 gallons. It took about 4 hours.
I hope that information makes sense. If not let me know and I will clarify.
Now the questions:
1. It seems to me that since there is a lot of storage time in the MAIN TANK that this is the point in the system where the chlorine should be added. This is by far, except possibly for the well itself, the most stagnant part of the system so the chlorine should have plenty of time to do its thing. Am I correct that this is the place to add the chlorine?
2. I would presumably use a chemical injection pump, with a chlorine holding tank, to add the chlorine into the system as it flows into the MAIN TANK. Does it make any significant difference if I inject the chlorine into the water line between the Well Pump and the MAIN TANK, or straight into the main tank?
3. Are there any additional suggestions as to what else I might add to this?
4. Any recommendation on which brand of injection pump I should be looking at? I'll pay extra to buy quality as long as it is not exorbitant. I'm not going to pay $10K for a nuclear power plant rated industrial pump for example.
Thanks in advance
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