We have a 50-foot-deep by 30" diameter bored well that was constructed in 1980. We've lived here for 10 years with no water problems (low pH is corrected by soda ash), until we had a significant downpour early this summer. Our water turned cloudy, and we tested positive for total coliform and e.coli bacteria.
Since then, I've disinfected twice at 200 ppm and retested twice, and we continue to be positive for total coliform (negative for e. coli). I had a well service company come out last week to inspect the well. After 30 minutes of pouring water on the ground around the well, the well guy showed me a trickle running down the inside of the well starting at about 13 feet down. He said this means we're getting unfiltered surface water into our well. He also said it was his opinion that it was unlikely that it could be repaired.
I think my two options are now 1) construct a new well, or 2) install filtration and ultraviolet equipment and use the existing well.
All the local well companies prefer to drill deep wells -- around 250 or 300 feet. I also know that my neighbors with deep drilled wells have complained about stained fixtures, iron, or other water quality issues. So I don't know if a new well would just be trading out one set of issues (bacteria and surface water) for another (minerals, hardness, uncertain production rates), or if it's clearly the better solution.
My primary goal is to end up with a happy household that enjoys our water -- cost is not the primary concern. What would you recommend for our situation?
Since then, I've disinfected twice at 200 ppm and retested twice, and we continue to be positive for total coliform (negative for e. coli). I had a well service company come out last week to inspect the well. After 30 minutes of pouring water on the ground around the well, the well guy showed me a trickle running down the inside of the well starting at about 13 feet down. He said this means we're getting unfiltered surface water into our well. He also said it was his opinion that it was unlikely that it could be repaired.
I think my two options are now 1) construct a new well, or 2) install filtration and ultraviolet equipment and use the existing well.
All the local well companies prefer to drill deep wells -- around 250 or 300 feet. I also know that my neighbors with deep drilled wells have complained about stained fixtures, iron, or other water quality issues. So I don't know if a new well would just be trading out one set of issues (bacteria and surface water) for another (minerals, hardness, uncertain production rates), or if it's clearly the better solution.
My primary goal is to end up with a happy household that enjoys our water -- cost is not the primary concern. What would you recommend for our situation?