Do-it-yourself well cleaning is easy and simple. How to clean the well yourself - a description of the methods

Reading 5 min. Posted on May 4, 2019

During the operation of a separate source, the flow rate periodically decreases, the water becomes cloudy. In such cases, it is required to clean the well from silt and sand, as well as clean the well filters. This happens due to the fact that these sources are drilled to the first sandy aquifer. After drilling a well on the sand, a large number of various mechanical impurities are formed in the water.

Causes of pollution and clogging of wells

Signs of contamination:

• debit decrease;
• water supply with air or intermittent supply;
• settling of small particles on the dishes.

Causes of blockage:

1. Periodic use of water intake. Due to stagnation, a persistent sediment of silt and sand forms at the bottom of the source.
2. Ingress of dirt from the outside in the absence of a cap or other protective means for the source.
3. Incorrect installation of water-lifting equipment, filters.
4. Displacement of aquifers.

Mechanical water filtration

In the presence of turbidity, and this is an indicator of various suspensions, coarse water treatment is used:

• reverse osmosis;
• carbon filter;
• propylene filter;
• tubular filtration systems.

The choice of filter in the well depends on the size of the contaminants. For smaller ones, reverse osmosis or coal structures are suitable, for large ones, coal or propylene ones. If there is too much sand, then experts advise using tubular filtration systems.

The latter option has high performance due to its design. On the tubes there are special grids with cells of different diameters, which allows you to keep not only sand and silt, but even larger fractions. If the well after drilling is too contaminated with sand and silt, then the well will need to be cleaned of silt and sand.

Cleaning the well from silt and sand

Silt and sand removal means one of the following methods:

1. Purging or flushing. A pipe is lowered to the bottom of the intake, through which water or air is supplied under pressure. Thus, the dirt through the space between the pipes comes to the surface.
2. With the help of submersible water lifting equipment. It is lowered several times to the bottom of the water intake so that the dirt rises from the bottom, after which the dirt is pumped out.
3. The use of chemical neutralizers. This method is used for severe silting, when it is impossible to use the rest. After pumping out, an acid composition is poured into the well to corrode contaminants from the bottom and water intake filters. After such treatment, the water will be undrinkable for a long time.
4. Bailer. Cleaning with a bailer resembles a plunger. She is lowered on a cable into the well, raised a little, abruptly thrown to the bottom. Due to this, the bailer is filled with blockage, sand and silt. After it is removed. The procedure is repeated until the well is completely cleaned. After that, they are washed using pumping equipment.

How to clean a well with a submersible pump

To prevent the pump from being sucked into the silt, it must be lowered on a strong cable. The rope that comes with the kit may not withstand such a load. After the cable is connected, it is necessary to put on the hose, tighten it firmly with clamps. The next step is to dive the equipment.

After diving, you should shake the water at the bottom, so the dirt particles will rise, the pumping process will be easier. Then pump out all the water. If the first time it was not possible to eliminate the silting, you should repeat all the steps until it is completely cleaned.

If you use a vibration pump, then pumping is also carried out, but periodically it is immersed in clean water for washing. Thus, the device is cleaned. If the equipment is very hot, you should let it rest so that it does not burn out.

Cleaning the well from silt using two pumps

To quickly clean the source of contamination, you can use two devices at once. To do this, in addition to pumping equipment, you will need a 200-liter tank for clean water. Thus, with one device you will pump out dirty water, and the second will work to supply clean water.

To prevent silting, periodically it is necessary to pump out water from the water intake. Contaminated well filters lead to:

• intermittent operation of the water intake;
• ingress of ground drains;
• improper arrangement of the caisson;
• ingress of soil particles during the operation of the vibration pump;
• improper installation of submersible pumping equipment.

Well filter cleaning methods

For water wells, main filters are mainly used. These are multi-stage systems that are built into the water supply system. They are for coarse and fine cleaning, with a different number of steps and the type of cleaning. They also differ in type and are divided into reagent and non-reagent.

They can be cleaned by lowering a pipe into the well and supplying water under high pressure, thereby washing out contaminants from the filter. It can be cleaned with a submersible pump, as is the case with the usual cleaning of a well from silt and sand.

In addition to these methods, you can use a special iron brush-brush. There is also an expensive, but high-quality method of electrohydropulse, in extreme cases, they are cleaned with acids.

Well filter cleaning by explosion

To clean the well from clay and clogging, the explosion method is used, which is considered inexpensive, but quite effective. The explosion increases the flow rate of the water well.

During the explosion, a shock wave of 100 MPa reaches the filter and is reflected from it, and also partially escapes into the space behind the pipes. A sharp, short-term impact of the blast wave does not allow destroying the filter, but separates precipitation from it. During the explosion, a gas bubble is formed, with which contaminants are released.

When choosing a torpedo, it is necessary to take into account the material of the casing, the composition of the rocks of the aquifer, the diameter and material of the filter.

Before the explosion, it is necessary to clean the well from sand. This method is unacceptable for casing strings made of asbestos cement and filters made of ceramics, as well as block structures.

Water well diagnostics

To identify blockages, siltation, geophysical and television diagnostic methods are used.

In order to understand how well the drilling was carried out and the casing strings were installed, as well as to check the water level, a geophysical method is used.

For the implementation of repair work, a television diagnostic method is used. Using a small video camera with LED light, you can view the seams on the pipes, the degree of silting.

When a submersible pump fails, the cause can be recognized on video.

It is necessary at the initial stage of silting. Otherwise, you can completely lose the source of water, since with a strong blockage, cleaning measures may not help. In this case, you will have to drill again.

The well is convenient in that it is an excellent alternative to centralized water supply, such a source of water on the site solves problems with irrigation and the use of life-giving moisture for household needs. But it is necessary to carry out preventive work from time to time so that the well is clean and the system is working properly, so many cottage owners are thinking about how to clean the well with their own hands without spending a lot of money on it.

If the water pressure has become weaker, this is the first alarm signal. This is usually followed by a brief stagnation with a characteristic gurgling and subsequent ejection of cloudy water, and then the system stops working.

Do-it-yourself well cleaning begins with determining the cause of the breakdown. There can be many reasons for this: problems often arise during irregular operation, errors during drilling and construction. Aquifers can change their direction - in this case, the cause will be natural.

If the structure does not have protective mechanisms, much more debris will enter the wellhead. The reason may be lack of maintenance or poor pump performance.

There are two main types of wells (with a filter and a straight hole) and three main ways to get the well working: flush it, pump it, or blow it.

It is more convenient to clean the water intake with a straight shaft - the equipment can be lowered to the bottom, thereby eliminating the risk of rapid silting. But with irregular operation, any well will become clogged sooner or later.

Scheme of a well device with a mesh filter. Many summer residents recommend using filters rather than chlorinating the water. But sooner or later, any well will need cleaning, so we choose a convenient method based on its characteristics.

The most affordable independent way to clean a country well from sand and silt is pumping.

Method #1 - Using a Standard Vibration Pump

If you have a conventional pump or a special one that is used for contaminated water, you can pump out a mixture of silt and sand, and debris with small stones. A pump is installed at the bottom of the well, and all debris deposited at the bottom enters the nozzle and is sucked up by the pump. Clean water must also be passed through the pump from time to time. If the case becomes very hot, it means that you need to let the equipment rest. It is possible to clean the well with a standard vibration pump of the "Kid" type, if it is shallow - the pump will lower by a maximum of 40 meters.

The pump is at the bottom of the well, water with impurities is sucked into the nozzle and thrown out. Clean water is passed through the pump from time to time to keep work surfaces clean. For the safety of the equipment, it is better to turn it off once or twice to avoid overheating.

Method # 2 - cleaning the well with a bailer

If the well is slightly clogged, and at the same time shallow in itself, a bailer can be used. In other cases, its application will be ineffective. If the depth is within 30m or more, you will also need a winch, and this method of cleaning will require considerable effort from two strong men.

Bailer - a piece of pipe on a cable with a mesh in the upper part and a hole in the bottom. It sinks to the bottom, then rises to a height of 0.5 m and drops sharply. Water is drawn inside, inside the cylinder there is a ball of metal, which after a couple of seconds rises, and then falls and closes the hole. Such a cycle of raising and lowering is repeated three or four times, then the bailer is raised and cleared of sand. To make it more convenient, you can use a tripod. About 0.5 kg of sand enters the cylinder at a time, so by cleaning in this way, you can find out how quickly the well becomes clogged.

Photo and diagram of the bailer device. Reviews about this method of cleaning the well are both positive and negative. For some, this method of cleaning seems to be very time-consuming and inefficient, someone only uses it. If you can make a bailer yourself, such cleaning will not require extra expenses, and this is already a plus

Method # 3 - mechanized cleaning

The most effective way for deep wells is mechanized cleaning. The best option is to use two pumps working in pairs.

A deep well pump equipped with a lower hydraulic intake is located at the bottom of the well. He lifts up the water with mud and silt. The pump, working with it in pairs, supplies water to shake up the deposits under pressure from the tank. For cleaning to be really effective, shake the water outlet hose and make sure that the amount of contaminants is not too large, if their concentration in the water is very high, overheating and even equipment failure may occur.

The equipment must also be selected correctly, the selection depends on the depth at which the water is located. Vibration pumps are used if the water depth is more than 10 meters.

Mechanized cleaning of the well with the help of a deep pump and a pump that works with it in pairs is recognized as the most effective way. Much here depends on the correct selection of pumps, so it is better to consult with specialists before cleaning.

Method # 4 - cleaning with a fire truck

To clean the well, you can call a fire truck. Using a fire hose and strong pressure, a well can be cleared in ten minutes. But this method is expensive and dangerous, filters and system components can be damaged from strong pressure. This method is recommended for severe pollution.

Method # 5 - using an airlift

How to clean a well in the country from sand and silt using an airlift? The method consists in using the law of Archimedes. What exactly is a well? This is a container of water. A water-lifting pipe is placed in it, into the lower part of which compressed air is supplied by means of an air compressor. A mixture of air and foam is formed in the pipe. The water column presses from below on the riser pipe - the process begins, it must be controlled so that the water in the well being cleaned does not run out.

Since the bottom of the pipe is located almost on the sand, sand with water rises and is absorbed by the riser pipe. The task of the person involved in cleaning is to monitor the water level in the well.

Cleaning with an airlift pump is also an effective way. Compressed air is supplied under pressure, at the bottom of the pipe silt, water, small stones rise, are absorbed by the pipe and pushed to the surface

As a rule, the wells in the areas are shallow, and a standard vibratory pump or bailer is suitable for cleaning. If the depth of the well is significant, you can try the mechanized cleaning method. When using a fire truck hose, cleaning the well will be very fast, but it is expensive. Unfortunately, this method often leads to damage, and this entails additional costs. If the main source of water in your country house is a well, choose a cleaning method that is convenient for you and periodically clean it so that there are no interruptions in the water supply, because water in the country is the main condition for a comfortable stay.

An overview of the most effective ways to clean a well with your own hands

The well is an ideal alternative to connecting to the central water supply network. Such a source of life-giving moisture completely solves the issue of irrigation and the use of water for domestic needs.

The presence of a water source on a personal plot, of course, has a lot of positive aspects, but it should be remembered that it must be regularly serviced. The main maintenance procedure is well cleaning, which will be discussed in the article.

Preventive maintenance should be carried out at least once a year. Then the system will function properly, and you will receive an uninterrupted supply of water. Dacha owners tend to carry out the cleaning procedure on their own, so the question "How to clean the well with your own hands?" is very relevant to them.

If you do not carry out preventive cleaning once a year, then the signal for the need to perform such measures may be the minimum pressure in the system. After it, a short-term stagnation occurs, characterized by gurgling and the release of dirty water.

The main causes of failure

Before deciding how to flush the well, you need to identify the cause of the breakdown. A lot of them. The most common are:

• non-seasonal use;
• mistakes made during the drilling process;
• change in the direction of groundwater flow;
• lack of protection against debris entering the mouth;
• incorrect operation of the pumping mechanism and untimely maintenance of hydraulic machines responsible for water supply.

When deciding how to clean the well from sand, stones and other things that impede water supply, you need to consider the type of well. It can be with or without a filter device.

In any case, cleaning the well can be carried out in three ways:

• flushing
• pumping
• purge

Do-it-yourself well cleaning can be done much faster if there is no filter in its design. This is due to the fact that the equipment for cleaning activities can be lowered to the very bottom.

Of the three cleaning methods proposed above, pumping is the most accessible. It is most often taken into account by people who are thinking about how to clean the well from sand.

Cleaning with a vibration pump

Cleaning of wells for water can be carried out using a conventional or special pump designed to pump out a mixture of sand and debris with small stones. Cleaning the well from sand in this way is quite simple. To carry it out, you must perform the following steps:

• lower the hydraulic machine to the bottom and start it
• all small debris at the bottom will fall into the water supply and will be brought out; a similar method is also acceptable for those people who do not know how to clean the well from clay
• during the cleaning process, it is required to periodically pass clean water through the system
• it will not be possible to quickly clean the well with your own hands, because during operation the pump housing can become very hot, and it needs to be allowed to rest

Cleaning wells with a standard pumping unit of the “Kid” type is permissible if their depth does not exceed 40 meters.

Bailer and a little physical effort

Cleaning of wells from silt and sand can be carried out using a bailer. This method is acceptable if the well is slightly clogged and has a shallow depth. Otherwise, this method is ineffective.

Do-it-yourself cleaning of wells with the help of a bailer is permissible if their depth is no more than 25 meters. Cleaning requires a winch and the physical effort of at least two adult men.

Structurally, the bailer is a short piece of pipe on a cable, inside of which there is a mesh and a ball. The cleaning process with its help is as follows:

• the device sinks to the bottom
• then rises to a height of 50-70 centimeters and rushes sharply
• under the influence of pressure, the inner cavity of the pipe is filled with water, and the ball moves to the top and then lowers, closing the hole
• a similar cycle is repeated several times; then the bailer is pulled out and cleaned of silt, sand and other debris

At one time, about half a kilogram of sand and silt enters the bailer. By cleaning in this way, you can understand how fast the well becomes clogged.

A bailer with a ball-shaped valve can be made on your own (there are many videos on the Internet that can facilitate the manufacturing process) or purchased at a hardware store. Such a device is inexpensive.

Highly efficient mechanized way

If cleaning of artesian wells is required, then a mechanized method should be adopted, using two paired pumps. If the well is silted up and you decide to use a mechanized method, then you need to clean it up as follows:

• The deep pump, which has a lower hydraulic intake, is located at the bottom. He is responsible for lifting the water.
• The second pump is responsible for supplying fluid to agitate deposits. Water supply can be carried out both from a pre-filled reservoir, and from another well.
• To clean the water well as efficiently as possible, the hose through which the water is drained must be shaken regularly and it must be ensured that the concentration of silt and sand in the water is not high. This may cause damage to the equipment.

Before you clean the well in the country, you need to take care of the competent selection of equipment. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the performance of the pump responsible for the removal of dirty water. For example, vibration pumps are used if the well depth is more than 10 meters.

Use of professional fire fighting equipment

You can clean the well from sand and silt by calling a fire truck. The fire hose must be lowered into the mine. A strong pressure of water under pressure will clean it in 10 minutes.

In contrast to the speed of cleaning, a number of arguments can be cited that characterize this method from the negative side:

• firstly, rented fire equipment is quite expensive;
• secondly, this cleaning method is dangerous: the filter and other components of the system may be damaged.

Thus, a fire truck should be involved in cleaning wells only in exceptional cases, for example, in case of severe pollution.

The laws of Archimedes in the service of a summer resident

This method allows you to independently clean the well from sand and silt, resorting to the laws of Archimedes known for several thousand years. The well shaft is a kind of vessel with liquid. It is required to lower a pipe into it, into the bottom of which air is supplied under considerable pressure by means of a compressor. Due to this, an air-foam mixture appears in the pipe. Thus, the water column rises through the pipe and exits.

The cleaning of the well by the compressor should be controlled. Blowing stops when the water runs out. Together with water, all the debris present in it rises through the pipe.

How to choose a cleaning method?

All of the above do-it-yourself well cleaning methods are affordable. You just have to choose the most effective of them. As a rule, wells in summer cottages do not differ in great depth, so cleaning can be done using a pump or bailer.

If during the drilling process water was found at a considerable depth, then a mechanized cleaning method should be used. Of course, there are many more cleaning methods, but they are not very popular.

well filter

The above indicates that the water in the well is not of high quality, therefore, before use, it must be cleaned using a filter. In addition to the obvious factors indicating the low quality of water (sand, silt, etc.), it contains a lot of harmful impurities:

• Iron. Its allowable rate is 0.3 mg / l. As the threshold value increases, the water becomes cloudy, stains plumbing, and has an unpleasant odor. A well-chosen filter will help to cope with such a problem.
• Hydrogen sulfide. Its presence is indicated by an unpleasant odor. You can not drink such water: it can be poisonous.
• Increased mineralization. The salt content in drinking water should not exceed 1000 mg/l. Otherwise, the liquid will be salty.
• Nitrates. They can negatively affect the heart and blood vessels. Their norm is 45 mg/l for adults and 10 mg/l for children.
• Bacteria and viruses. They can cause various pathologies. These harmful microorganisms enter the water from the environment.

A well-chosen filter will help protect against problems caused by poor water quality. Especially relevant is its installation in water pipes originating in wells prone to frequent clogging.

The filter must be changed regularly. The period of its correct functioning directly depends on the quality of the water. It increases with regular cleaning of the water source.

Purification can be carried out not only from various debris (for example, sand or silt), but also from harmful microorganisms and substances that affect water quality. Such events cannot be carried out independently. For this, specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological station should be involved. At the same time, water from the well will not be drinkable for a certain time.

Preventive measures

It is almost impossible to prevent the contamination of wells with silt and sand, since these materials carry groundwater with them, and the violation of the integrity of the soil structure is an excellent place for their accumulation. But it is not difficult to protect yourself from various debris entering the mine. To do this, close it carefully. This can be done with various materials, such as tin sheets.

If the mine has a shallow depth, then it is possible to finish the mine with wood, concrete, etc. Often, ordinary wells act as a place for water intake. They are finished with reinforced concrete rings.

It should be understood that even timely preventive measures do not give a 100% guarantee that the well will not be clogged. They only allow you to increase the time between cleaning. In other words, a well-maintained well can be cleaned once every 2 years, and an unimproved well - sometimes several times per season.

Clean and replace filters in a timely manner, and then you will be provided with clean and tasty water all year round. Moreover, carrying out cleaning activities will not require much effort, time and money from you. Surely one of the above five ways is perfect for you.

The presence of a source of water on a personal plot, of course, has a lot of positive aspects, but it should be remembered that it is necessary ...

An overview of the most effective ways to clean a well with your own hands

The well is an ideal alternative to connecting to the central water supply network. Such a source of life-giving moisture completely solves the issue of irrigation and the use of water for domestic needs.

The presence of a water source on a personal plot, of course, has a lot of positive aspects, but it should be remembered that it must be regularly serviced. The main maintenance procedure is well cleaning, which will be discussed in the article.

Preventive maintenance should be carried out at least once a year. Then the system will function properly, and you will receive an uninterrupted supply of water. Dacha owners tend to carry out the cleaning procedure on their own, so the question "How to clean the well with your own hands?" is very relevant to them.

If you do not carry out preventive cleaning once a year, then the signal for the need to perform such measures may be the minimum pressure in the system. After it, a short-term stagnation occurs, characterized by gurgling and the release of dirty water.

The main causes of failure

Before deciding how to flush the well, you need to identify the cause of the breakdown. A lot of them. The most common are:

• non-seasonal use;
• mistakes made during the drilling process;
• change in the direction of groundwater flow;
• lack of protection against debris entering the mouth;
• incorrect operation of the pumping mechanism and untimely maintenance of hydraulic machines responsible for water supply.

When deciding how to clean the well from sand, stones and other things that impede water supply, you need to consider the type of well. It can be with or without a filter device. In any case, cleaning the well can be carried out in three ways:

• washing;
• pumping;
• purge.

Do-it-yourself well cleaning can be done much faster if there is no filter in its design. This is due to the fact that the equipment for cleaning activities can be lowered to the very bottom.

Of the three cleaning methods proposed above, pumping is the most accessible. It is most often taken into account by people who are thinking about how to clean the well from sand.

Cleaning with a vibration pump

Cleaning of wells for water can be carried out using a conventional or special pump designed to pump out a mixture of sand and debris with small stones. Cleaning the well from sand in this way is quite simple. To carry it out, you must perform the following steps:

• lower the hydraulic machine to the bottom and start it;
• all small debris at the bottom will fall into the water supply and will be brought out; a similar method is also acceptable for those people who do not know how to clean the well from clay;
• during the cleaning process, it is required to periodically pass clean water through the system;
• it will not be possible to quickly clean the well with your own hands, because during operation the pump housing can become very hot, and it needs to be allowed to rest.

Cleaning wells with a standard pumping unit of the “Kid” type is permissible if their depth does not exceed 40 meters.

Bailer and a little physical effort

Cleaning of wells from silt and sand can be carried out using a bailer. This method is acceptable if the well is slightly clogged and has a shallow depth. Otherwise, this method is ineffective.

Do-it-yourself cleaning of wells with the help of a bailer is permissible if their depth is no more than 25 meters. Cleaning requires a winch and the physical effort of at least two adult men.

Structurally, the bailer is a short piece of pipe on a cable, inside of which there is a mesh and a ball. The cleaning process with its help is as follows:

• the device sinks to the bottom;
• then it rises to a height of 50–70 centimeters and rushes sharply;
• under the influence of pressure, the inner cavity of the pipe is filled with water, and the ball moves to the upper part and then lowers, closing the hole;
• a similar cycle is repeated several times; then the bailer is pulled out and cleaned of silt, sand and other debris.

At one time, about half a kilogram of sand and silt enters the bailer. By cleaning in this way, you can understand how fast the well becomes clogged.

A bailer with a ball-shaped valve can be made on your own (there are many videos on the Internet that can facilitate the manufacturing process) or purchased at a hardware store. Such a device is inexpensive.

Highly efficient mechanized way

If cleaning of artesian wells is required, then a mechanized method should be adopted, using two paired pumps. If the well is silted up and you decide to use a mechanized method, then you need to clean it up as follows:

• The deep pump, which has a lower hydraulic intake, is located at the bottom. He is responsible for lifting the water.
• The second pump is responsible for supplying fluid to agitate deposits. Water supply can be carried out both from a pre-filled reservoir, and from another well.
• To clean the water well as efficiently as possible, the hose through which the water is drained must be shaken regularly and it must be ensured that the concentration of silt and sand in the water is not high. This may cause damage to the equipment.

Before you clean the well in the country, you need to take care of the competent selection of equipment. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the performance of the pump responsible for the removal of dirty water. For example, vibration pumps are used if the well depth is more than 10 meters.

Use of professional fire fighting equipment

You can clean the well from sand and silt by calling a fire truck. The fire hose must be lowered into the mine. A strong pressure of water under pressure will clean it in 10 minutes.

In contrast to the speed of cleaning, a number of arguments can be cited that characterize this method from the negative side:

• firstly, rented fire equipment is quite expensive;
• secondly, this cleaning method is dangerous: the filter and other components of the system may be damaged.

Thus, a fire truck should be involved in cleaning wells only in exceptional cases, for example, in case of severe pollution.

The laws of Archimedes in the service of a summer resident

This method allows you to independently clean the well from sand and silt, resorting to the laws of Archimedes known for several thousand years. The well shaft is a kind of vessel with liquid. It is required to lower a pipe into it, into the bottom of which air is supplied under considerable pressure by means of a compressor. Due to this, an air-foam mixture appears in the pipe. Thus, the water column rises through the pipe and exits.

The cleaning of the well by the compressor should be controlled. Blowing stops when the water runs out. Together with water, all the debris present in it rises through the pipe.

How to choose a cleaning method

All of the above do-it-yourself well cleaning methods are affordable. You just have to choose the most effective of them. As a rule, wells in summer cottages do not differ in great depth, so cleaning can be done using a pump or bailer.

If during the drilling process water was found at a considerable depth, then a mechanized cleaning method should be used. Of course, there are many more cleaning methods, but they are not very popular.

well filter

The above indicates that the water in the well is not of high quality, therefore, before use, it must be cleaned using a filter.

In addition to the obvious factors indicating the low quality of water (sand, silt, etc.), it contains a lot of harmful impurities:

• Iron. Its allowable rate is 0.3 mg / l. As the threshold value increases, the water becomes cloudy, stains plumbing, and has an unpleasant odor. A well-chosen filter will help to cope with such a problem.
• Hydrogen sulfide. Its presence is indicated by an unpleasant odor. You can not drink such water: it can be poisonous.
• Increased mineralization. The salt content in drinking water should not exceed 1000 mg/l. Otherwise, the liquid will be salty.
• Nitrates. They can negatively affect the heart and blood vessels. Their norm is 45 mg/l for adults and 10 mg/l for children.
• Bacteria and viruses. They can cause various pathologies. These harmful microorganisms enter the water from the environment.

A well-chosen filter will help protect against problems caused by poor water quality. Especially relevant is its installation in water pipes originating in wells prone to frequent clogging.

The filter must be changed regularly. The period of its correct functioning directly depends on the quality of the water. It increases with regular cleaning of the water source.

Purification can be carried out not only from various debris (for example, sand or silt), but also from harmful microorganisms and substances that affect water quality.

Such events cannot be carried out independently. For this, specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological station should be involved. At the same time, water from the well will not be drinkable for a certain time.

Preventive measures

It is almost impossible to prevent the contamination of wells with silt and sand, since these materials carry groundwater with them, and the violation of the integrity of the soil structure is an excellent place for their accumulation. But it is not difficult to protect yourself from various debris entering the mine. To do this, close it carefully. This can be done with various materials, such as tin sheets.

If the mine has a shallow depth, then it is possible to finish the mine with wood, concrete, etc. Often, ordinary wells act as a place for water intake. They are finished with reinforced concrete rings.

It should be understood that even timely preventive measures do not give a 100% guarantee that the well will not be clogged. They only allow you to increase the time between cleaning. In other words, a well-maintained well can be cleaned once every 2 years, and an unimproved well - sometimes several times per season.

Clean and replace filters in a timely manner, and then you will be provided with clean and tasty water all year round. Moreover, carrying out cleaning activities will not require much effort, time and money from you. Surely one of the above five ways is perfect for you.

• Article
• Video

If you plan to clean the well, then first familiarize yourself with its arrangement and types. You will need at least a general knowledge of this in order to independently determine why the water fell in the well and what cleaning method should be used.

Why wells clog

Cleaning the well is required if it is silted up. A number of reasons may contribute to this.

1. The case may be that the pipe was not installed correctly during drilling. The section of the pipe where the water should enter is outside the deep water layer.
2. A well may become silted up if it has a high depth vibratory pump equipped with an overhead intake.
3. If the pumping of water is weak, then dirt, silt, and stones accumulate in the well. Soon all this is rammed, which significantly limits the water supply. Therefore, if you often use the well and consume a lot of water, the chance of silting is reduced.
4. If the pipe diameter is larger than the filter diameter, then the pump will not be able to go below a certain depth - this is about 20-25 cm above the filter.
5. Finally, silting can be caused by a rotary pump installed at a depth of less than 10 m. This will cause various particles to settle below the filter and compact there.

Well cleaning technology

How to clean water from lime from a well? Today there are many devices for cleaning wells. It can be a pump, an engineering pistol, special vehicles. But it is not always possible to use such devices, and not only because of the excessively high price for such services, but also because of the limited space next to the well. In this case, you have no choice but to eliminate the silting yourself.

Let's look at the most common cleaning equipment.

1. vibration pump.
2. A pair of pumps used at the same time.
3. Airlift (lift).

Now in detail about each.

how to pull a pump out of a well

Cleaning with a bailer

This is the most effective way of cleaning, requiring a lot of time and effort. The bailer allows you to bring even the most neglected wells back to life, clean them of silt and small pebbles. You can make the bailer yourself, using improvised materials and fitting it to the size of the well. But you should pay attention to the fact that you need to clean not only the well itself, but also the water. Mandatory purification of water from manganese and iron, because the deposits of these impurities have a very detrimental effect on human health.

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Making a bailer

If you intend to make a bailer yourself, you will need a metal pipe 70 cm long and Ø5 cm. You also need to find a metal ball Ø4 cm. Make the bottom of the pipe in the form of a thick washer.

Important! Make the top of the washer in the form of a funnel, and the diameter of its saddle is equal to the diameter of the ball.

It is desirable that the bottom of the washer looks like a return funnel. Next, take a washer and weld it to the bottom of the pipe, and attach a metal grate on top so that the ball cannot pop out. Weld an arcuate handle above the grate, a cable will be attached to it in the future. To increase the efficiency of the bailer, attach several metal “fangs” near the washer, which will loosen the silt.

well pump

But we did not mention one important aspect - where to find such a ball so that it fits the size of the bailer? To get the ball, you can:

• by ordering its manufacture to a professional (blacksmith or locksmith);
• buying it in the store;
• by doing it by hand.

Let's consider the last option in more detail. To make a ball, buy a children's rubber ball that is suitable in size. You also buy hunting shot, the caliber does not matter. Cut the ball into two equal parts and fill each of them with shot, previously mixed with waterproof glue. When the halves are dry, carefully sand them and connect them with the same glue. The reliability and durability of the bailer will depend on the quality of the glue. If you were unable to buy a fraction, then it can be replaced with bearing balls.

Bailer cleaning technology

Fasten the bailer to a metal cable and lower it into the well. Having reached the bottom, raise the bailer about half a meter, then sharply lower it. The potential energy of the ball will cause it to remain in its original position, while the lower hole will be open and dirty water and silt will get into it. Soon the ball under its own weight will fall and close the hole. To fill the bailer ½, repeat the procedure about four times. Then slowly pull out the bailer and empty it.

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With each such lift, you will remove up to 0.5 kg of dirt and silt from the well.

Cleaning with a vibration pump

Another method of cleaning a silted well is to use a vibrating pump. This method has excellent performance, however, it requires much less time and effort than bailer cleaning. It is ideal for narrow bottom wells where conventional pumps are powerless. The only drawback is the fact that when using a vibration pump, you will not be able to determine the bottom of the well.

For this, you can use a deep-well pump of the “Kid” class, which draws from below. Before starting the procedure, put a rubber hose on the water intake, firmly fasten it with wire. You can additionally insert a metal pipe into the hose - this will protect it from slipping. Attach a small weight to the bottom of the hose so that during the dive the entire structure goes under the water entirely, and the hose does not float to the surface.

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Lower the "Kid" pump into the well until its lower end reaches the silt load. Then lift the pump 10 cm and turn it on. When the cleaning is finished, you will need to change the piston in the pump. Usually the pistons come with it.

Important! Judged objectively, the vibration pump is more efficient than the bailer.

This method of cleaning is able to cope with silting of any degree of complexity, and in record time. The disadvantage is that the working valve wears out a lot, and large particles cannot be lifted from the bottom of the well with such a pump.

Cleaning with a pair of pumps

Using a pair of pumps at the same time is the simplest way to remove sludge from a well. In this case, you will use two types of pumps.

1. Depth device with a lower fence.
2. Self-priming device necessary for supplying water to the well.

Well cleaning technology

The submersible pump is placed at the bottom of the well. It will raise the silt to the surface. A self-priming pump working in parallel with it will supply water to the well to further agitate the sediment. Water will come from a special tank with a volume of 100-200 liters, installed near the work site.

Periodically shake the hose to remove water from the well - this will increase the efficiency of work.

Important! Make sure that the concentration of sludge in the outlet water is not too high, as this may cause the appliance to overheat.

Pay special attention to the choice of pumps. It is characteristic that vibration pumps can only be used in cases where the depth of the well exceeds 10 m.

Cleaning with an airlift (lift)

Another method of well cleaning is airlifts. What is the essence of this method? In applying the law of Archimedes. After all, what, in fact, are wells? That's right, a regular container of water. Place a water pipe in the well. Compressed air will be supplied to its lower part, for which you need to use an air compressor.

When you turn on the compressor, a mixture of air and foam forms in the pipe, a column of water will press on the pipe from below - this is the beginning of the process. Such cleaning requires careful control, you must ensure that the water in the well does not run out.

Cleaning occurs due to the fact that the lower end of the pipe is located almost at the bottom of the well, silt with sand rises and is drawn in by the intake pipe. Your only task, again, will be to control the water level in the well.

Finally

Often, wells in suburban areas are shallow, so you can clean them with a bailer or a vibration pump. If the well depth exceeds 10 m, then it is better to use the two-pump method.

Video - Causes of well pollution

Video - Cleaning a well with a bailer

The well is convenient in that it is an excellent alternative to centralized water supply, such a source of water on the site solves problems with irrigation and the use of life-giving moisture for household needs. But it is necessary to carry out preventive work from time to time so that the well is clean and the system is working properly, so many cottage owners are thinking about how to clean the well with their own hands without spending a lot of money on it.

If the water pressure has become weaker, this is the first alarm signal. This is usually followed by a brief stagnation with a characteristic gurgling and subsequent ejection of cloudy water, and then the system stops working.

Do-it-yourself well cleaning begins with determining the cause of the breakdown. There can be many reasons for this: problems often arise during irregular operation, errors during drilling and construction. Aquifers can change their direction - in this case, the cause will be natural.

If the structure does not have protective mechanisms, much more debris will enter the wellhead. The reason may be lack of maintenance or poor pump performance.

There are two main types of wells (with a filter and a straight hole) and three main ways to get the well working: flush it, pump it, or blow it.

It is more convenient to clean the water intake with a straight shaft - the equipment can be lowered to the bottom, thereby eliminating the risk of rapid silting. But with irregular operation, any well will become clogged sooner or later.

Scheme of a well device with a mesh filter. Many summer residents recommend using filters rather than chlorinating the water. But sooner or later, any well will need cleaning, so we choose a convenient method based on its characteristics.

The most affordable independent way to clean a country well from sand and silt is pumping.

Method #1 - using a standard vibration pump

If you have a conventional pump or a special one that is used for contaminated water, you can pump out a mixture of silt and sand, and debris with small stones. A pump is installed at the bottom of the well, and all debris deposited at the bottom enters the nozzle and is sucked up by the pump. Clean water must also be passed through the pump from time to time. If the case becomes very hot, it means that you need to let the equipment rest. It is possible to clean the well with a standard vibration pump of the "Kid" type, if it is shallow - the pump will lower by a maximum of 40 meters.

The pump is at the bottom of the well, water with impurities is sucked into the nozzle and thrown out. Clean water is passed through the pump from time to time to keep work surfaces clean. For the safety of the equipment, it is better to turn it off once or twice to avoid overheating.

Method # 2 - cleaning the well with a bailer

If the well is slightly clogged, and at the same time shallow in itself, a bailer can be used. In other cases, its application will be ineffective. If the depth is within 30m or more, you will also need a winch, and this method of cleaning will require considerable effort from two strong men.

Bailer - a piece of pipe on a cable with a mesh in the upper part and a hole in the bottom. It sinks to the bottom, then rises to a height of 0.5 m and drops sharply. Water is drawn inside, inside the cylinder there is a ball of metal, which after a couple of seconds rises, and then falls and closes the hole. Such a cycle of raising and lowering is repeated three or four times, then the bailer is raised and cleared of sand. To make it more convenient, you can use a tripod. About 0.5 kg of sand enters the cylinder at a time, so by cleaning in this way, you can find out how quickly the well becomes clogged.

Photo and diagram of the bailer device. Reviews about this method of cleaning the well are both positive and negative. For some, this method of cleaning seems to be very time-consuming and inefficient, someone only uses it. If you can make a bailer yourself, such cleaning will not require extra expenses, and this is already a plus

A bailer with a ball valve can be made independently or bought ready-made in a store.

Method # 3 - mechanized cleaning

The most effective way for deep wells is mechanized cleaning. The best option is to use two pumps working in pairs.

A deep well pump equipped with a lower hydraulic intake is located at the bottom of the well. He lifts up the water with mud and silt. The pump, working with it in pairs, supplies water to shake up the deposits under pressure from the tank. For cleaning to be really effective, shake the water outlet hose and make sure that the amount of contaminants is not too large, if their concentration in the water is very high, overheating and even equipment failure may occur.

The equipment must also be selected correctly, the selection depends on the depth at which the water is located. Vibration pumps are used if the water depth is more than 10 meters.

Mechanized cleaning of the well with the help of a deep pump and a pump that works with it in pairs is recognized as the most effective way. Much here depends on the correct selection of pumps, so it is better to consult with specialists before cleaning.

Method #4 - cleaning with a fire truck

To clean the well, you can call a fire truck. Using a fire hose and strong pressure, a well can be cleared in ten minutes. But this method is expensive and dangerous, filters and system components can be damaged from strong pressure. This method is recommended for severe pollution.

Method # 5 - using an airlift

How to clean a well in the country from sand and silt using an airlift? The method consists in using the law of Archimedes. What exactly is a well? This is a container of water. A water-lifting pipe is placed in it, into the lower part of which compressed air is supplied by means of an air compressor. A mixture of air and foam is formed in the pipe. The water column presses from below on the riser pipe - the process begins, it must be controlled so that the water in the well being cleaned does not run out.

Since the bottom of the pipe is located almost on the sand, sand with water rises and is absorbed by the riser pipe. The task of the person involved in cleaning is to monitor the water level in the well.

Cleaning with an airlift pump is also an effective way. Compressed air is supplied under pressure, at the bottom of the pipe silt, water, small stones rise, are absorbed by the pipe and pushed to the surface

As a rule, the wells in the areas are shallow, and a standard vibratory pump or bailer is suitable for cleaning. If the depth of the well is significant, you can try the mechanized cleaning method. When using a fire truck hose, cleaning the well will be very fast, but it is expensive. Unfortunately, this method often leads to damage, and this entails additional costs. If the main source of water in your country house is a well, choose a cleaning method that is convenient for you and periodically clean it so that there are no interruptions in the water supply, because water in the country is the main condition for a comfortable stay.

In order for the house to have clean water, it is necessary to carry out preventive maintenance of the well. Symptoms of fluid contamination are a clear decrease in flow rate, the appearance of an odor and an unpleasant aftertaste.

A sign of clogging is the presence of sand and dirt in the composition of microparticles. There is a natural question of cleaning wells.

When a cloudy liquid appears and its drinking qualities deteriorate, urgent cleaning and flushing of the well is necessary. First of all, the causes of this process should be determined.

Natural factors:

• silt formed at the bottom;
• nearby body of water;
• proximity to peatlands.

The artificial ones are:

• pollution of the adjacent territory;
• long service life;
• corrosion of pipes and breakdown of pumping equipment.

Only after studying the causes of pollution, they begin to clean. The main problem is the siltation of the bottom due to an incorrect source device, which is detected only during operation.

Initially, the correct connection of structural elements, their tightness, and the location of pumping equipment are checked. At the bottom of the shaft, the correct installation of the bottom and mechanical filters and their compliance with the dimensions of the pipes are examined. If they are installed incorrectly, sand impurities can get into the water used, which makes it necessary to clean the well.

Determine the causes of pollution and the type of source. The most common are its sandy types, drilled to a depth of 10 meters. The water in them is purified in a natural way - by means of fine gravel and sand at the bottom. This type of mine silts up quite quickly. At the bottom, a sand mule accumulates, which becomes dense and does not allow liquid to pass to the surface.

In a sand well, seasonal changes in the water level and its composition occur. Microorganisms enter the well from the surface, which leads to bacterial contamination. In this case, a laboratory study of the quality of the liquid is carried out. In appearance, it can be normal and fraught with dangerous microorganisms.

Artesians reach limestone aquifers. They are located at a depth of more than 50 meters, where viruses and harmful bacteria cannot exist. Products of pollution of human activity (chemical, industrial waste, etc.) do not penetrate to such a depth.

If the mine is airtight and does not get water from the upper aquifers, it is not subject to pollution. A deep pump is installed at the bottom to prevent the formation of silt. Cleaning of artesian sources is extremely rare for the following reasons:

• wrong plugging;
• the use of rotary pumps and their shallow immersion. They do not reach the bottom and cannot prevent the formation of silt there;
• different diameters of pipes and filters, leading to clogging. This causes a decrease in the volume of water;
• fluid stagnation due to insufficient pumping. There is a settling of small particles of sand and rust.

Regardless of the type of sources, they all become contaminated over time. Some after a few years, others after tens. Therefore, it is recommended to study the existing options for cleaning the drilled mine.

How to clean your own hands from silt and sand: ways

The choice of cleaning method is influenced by the depth of the source and the characteristics of the soil around it. Soil conditions near the mine can lead to deterioration of water quality. From prolonged use, the source may become unusable. In this case, it is necessary to drill a new well. Contaminate the source and groundwater that enters the aquifer.

Cleaning the well begins with determining the feasibility of the work. If the causes can be eliminated on their own, for example, due to the collapse of soil rocks, the simplest method is used.

Compressor

Use a device with a capacity of 12 atmospheres. Use pipes of smaller diameter than the mine itself. The sequence of work is as follows:

1. All elements of the pipeline are connected and installed on the bottom.
2. The upper end of this structure is securely fixed so that when the compressor is running, it is not pushed to the surface.
3. A vacuum adapter is mounted on the pipe.
4. Pump up the compressor.
5. Let air into the pipe through a hose put on the adapter.
6. Repeat up to 4-5 times.

As a result of these actions, the dirt from the bottom will be squeezed out by air. It will start to exit through the free space between the installed pipeline and the shaft.

If air blowing did not help to clean the source, the procedure is repeated, but with the use of flushing the well with water. Use the same mounted pipeline with an adapter.

A large filled container is placed next to the well. With a water compressor, this water is driven into the mine under pressure. The jet will push up the dirt, splashing everything around. It should be cleaned until dirt stops coming out of it and goes.

Blowing and flushing helps to clean the mine in the country from silt and sand. To clean the filters from salt deposits, other methods are needed.

Flushing with a submersible and vibration pump

This method is more accurate and cleaner in operation. The pumped out liquid is drained to a convenient place. As a result, there is no dirt in the yard of a country house.

A pump is selected for pumping out dirty, silty liquid with the possibility of suction of solid microparticles. Such a unit allows you to remove sand and small pebbles from the bottom.

Clean the shaft using a submersible pump as follows:

1. They fix it on the surface with a strong cable, since during operation it is sucked into the silt, from which the unit must be pulled out. The cord that comes with the pump does not always cope with this task.
2. The pump is lowered several times to the very bottom, shaking the sediment.
3. After installing the unit closer to the bottom, it is turned on and the process of liquid pumping is controlled.

Further actions depend on the pump model. In the presence of automation, it will turn itself off after pumping out the liquid. Other types must be turned off manually, as the motor may burn out when idling.

The submersible pump can be replaced with a vibration pump. The principle of its work is the same. The only difference is the need to regularly flush the unit and monitor the heating of the case so that it does not burn out. To ensure the pumping process, two large tanks or another container should be prepared into which the hoses are inserted.

Important: The vibration pump should be flushed regularly as it is not designed to operate in heavily contaminated water. This will eliminate the possibility of clogging and overheating.

Zhelonka

It is considered the most reliable, but rather time-consuming way. It is used with a small depth of the mine and slight clogging, otherwise its use is inefficient.

For example, cleaning a 30-meter well requires an additional winch device and the effort of two people.

This product is a piece of pipe with a valve at the lower end and a mesh cable at the top. It is made by hand or bought ready-made.

The principle of operation is as follows: the bailer attached to the cable is lowered to the bottom, then raised by 0.5 meters and sharply lowered down. Under her heavy weight, she falls into the silt. The bottom valve opens and sediment from the bottom of the source gets inside.

These actions are done several times, then the bailer is brought to the surface and cleaned of sand. The work is carried out until the bottom is completely cleared of silt.

Cleaning with two pumps

This method is recognized as the most effective. This method is carried out by two pumps: deep and self-priming. To get an excellent result, the main thing is to choose the right types. The process of work itself is slow, but the pump is not clogged with large particles of dirt.

The essence of this method lies in the fact that a vibration unit is placed at the bottom, which raises the sediment up, and a pump working in tandem with it supplies clean water to the mine.

The process itself is as follows:

• a large capacity (up to 200 liters) is installed on the surface. In parallel, a bucket with a mesh bottom is prepared, which is attached to the top of the tank;
• one end of the hose from the pump is lowered into this small container, and the other, with an attached load, is immersed inside the source;
• the deep pump is installed closer to the bottom of the mine, 20-30 cm from the sediment formed there. To do this, it is lowered to the limit several times and raised. Then fix at the desired height.
• first turn on the vibration pump. He will draw water from the source into a prepared large container, which must be filled to the limit.
• pump water from the barrel under pressure is fed into the well, while the lower layer of liquid is mixed with mud and sediment. The hose that brings water back to the source is immersed in a bucket with a mesh. Therefore, small particles of dirt do not fall back.

Gradually, the end of the downhole hose is brought closer to the bottom. The work lasts approximately two hours.

Chemical

During operation, a coating forms on the filter installed on the bottom, which is difficult to remove mechanically. Therefore, chemical methods are used.

To destroy sediments that prevent the flow of liquid, food reagents that are safe for human health, such as citric acid, are used. If the blockage is small, the work can be done by hand, otherwise it is better to involve specialists.

For chemical cleaning of wells, in addition to citric, other natural and low-toxic acids are used - sorbic and ascorbic. For these purposes, some stabilizers and preservatives used in the food industry, such as xanthan gum and sodium benzoate, can also be used.

In case of serious pollution, more effective acids are also used, which have reducing and neutralizing properties. such as sodium dithionite and hydrochloric acid. They effectively dissolve ferruginous compounds on the walls of the filter and shaft.

airlift

The use of an airlift is also quite an effective method. Its essence is that compressed air is supplied to the mine under pressure, which raises sediment from the bottom. It falls into the water and is pushed out.

This method is used to remove sand from the bottom. It does not require additional work on the installation of any devices if it is difficult to get to the source, for example, in a caisson or pavilion.

An ordinary pipe is placed in the source. An air compressor is used, compressed air is supplied to its lower part, located in the mine. As a result, a foam-air mixture is formed in the pipe, and under pressure it is pushed out.

It is necessary to ensure that the bottom of the lifting pipe is always on the sand, and that there is a sufficient level of liquid in the well itself.

Rinse with fire hose

The method is used when the well is heavily contaminated, and when a quick result is needed.

With the help of a fire truck, water is pumped through a hose under strong pressure into the mine. Pollution is removed almost instantly. But there is a risk of damage to filters and other components of the source design.

Purging

The principle of application is that high-pressure air is supplied to the mine. This can be done in several ways: conventional air compressors or a specially called fire engine.

As a result of the pressure created in the trunk, water mixed with fine particles of silt and sand is pushed out. Unlike rinsing, purging does not require large amounts of water. It is mainly used for shallow wells reaching 40 meters.

The disadvantage of this method is the threat of damage to the filter, which cannot be replaced with a new one. An uncontrolled release of sand can also occur.

How to choose the best way

Using one of the above options, you can get rid of mine pollution yourself at home. As a result, its debit is restored, and water will again flow in the required amount.

Shallow wells are cleaned with a standard vibrator or.

With a significant depth of the source barrel, it is better to use cleaning with two pumps, the so-called mechanical one.

The fastest way is to clean with a fire hose. But it is also the most expensive, and it can also damage the filter and barrel.

Results

If the main source of drinking water in your country house is a well, keep the liquid in it clean and try to clean it regularly in a way that is accessible to you. Preventive work should be carried out regularly, and if the water pressure has decreased significantly, start cleaning yourself, or by calling a specialist.