Well Cleaning and Rehabilitation in Spokane County: When and Why

A well may be cleaned or rehabilitated when bacteria show up in a test, when screens clog or when yield drops. NGWA says positive anaerobic bacteria results call for professional cleaning and disinfection with the pump pulled, and Ecology counts cleaning and sanitation as maintenance.

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What cleaning and rehabilitation mean

Cleaning removes buildup or contamination from a well, and rehabilitation tries to restore a well's yield. They can involve disinfecting the well, cleaning the screen or casing, and sometimes work on the pump. The cause comes first. King County Public Health lists clogged well screens among the reasons a well produces little or no water, together with seasonal changes in water level, neighboring wells, changes in geology and broken pumps.

NGWA says positive anaerobic bacteria results call for professional cleaning and disinfection with the pump pulled. A positive test is not the same thing as an unsafe well in every case, and a qualified professional should read the result.

Under Ecology's rules, cleaning and sanitation are not counted as altering a well. Under Ecology's well rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well. WAC 173-162-030 says well alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations meant to increase well yields or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement.

When people look into this

A water test came back positive for bacteria.
Water production has dropped.
Water looks cloudy, smells or tastes different.
A well was opened or flooded.
Screens are suspected to be clogged.
A professional recommended cleaning after an inspection.

What the work usually looks like

Test the water. A lab test shows what is in the water.
Read the result. A professional explains what it means.
Find the cause. Screen, casing, pump or well can all be involved.
Plan the work. Cleaning, disinfection or rehabilitation is chosen.
Do the work. The pump may be pulled and the well cleaned.
Test again. The water is tested afterward.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Keep the lab result and show it to the professional.
Note changes in taste, smell, color or production.
Ask what the professional thinks the cause is.
Ask whether the pump will be pulled.
Ask whether disinfection and retesting are in the price.
Ask which trades are involved.
Check each company on the L&I page.
Get the price in writing.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For cleaning, the cause and whether the pump is pulled matter most.

Cause. Bacteria, buildup and clogged screens differ in work needed.
Pulling the pump. Takes equipment and time.
Depth. Deeper wells take more time.
Disinfection and retesting. Part of the scope or separate.
Rehabilitation. Trying to restore yield adds work.
Trades. Plumbing and electrical trades can be involved.
Written scope. What the price includes.

The test result comes first

Cleaning without a test result is guessing. A lab test tells you what is in the water, and a professional can explain what a positive result means and what it does not. NGWA's guidance links positive anaerobic bacteria results to professional cleaning and disinfection.

Keep the lab report, and give a copy to whoever prices the work. Ask for a retest afterward, and keep that result too. Together they show what the water was before and after.

Local rules and sources

What NGWA says. NGWA's inspection guidance says positive anaerobic bacteria results call for professional cleaning and disinfection with the pump pulled.

Possible causes of low water. King County Public Health (Seattle area) says possible reasons a well produces little or no water include seasonal changes in water level, neighboring wells, clogged well screens, changes in geology, broken pumps and water storage tanks, and leaks in the water system. It recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer.

Ecology's rules. Under Ecology's well rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well. WAC 173-162-030 says well alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations meant to increase well yields or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement.

Testing. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also when you notice a change in taste, color or smell, after flooding, and after you replace any part of your well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to have it tested.

Trades. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

When does a well need cleaning?

NGWA says positive anaerobic bacteria results call for professional cleaning and disinfection with the pump pulled. King County Public Health lists clogged screens among the reasons a well produces little water. A qualified professional should read your test result and find the cause before deciding.

Is well cleaning a well alteration?

Not under Ecology's rules. WAC 173-162-030 says alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing and similar operations meant to increase yield or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement. Other trades can still be involved, so ask which.

Should I test the water after cleaning?

Yes. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also after flooding and after you replace any part of the system. Ask your county health department how and where to test, and keep the retest result with your records.

Does low water mean the well needs rehabilitation?

Not necessarily. King County Public Health lists seasonal water level changes, neighboring wells, clogged screens, geology changes, broken pumps and tanks and leaks as possible reasons. It recommends contacting a water professional such as a well driller, pump installer or water system engineer to find the cause.

How much does well cleaning cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. The cause, whether the pump is pulled, depth, disinfection and retesting, and any rehabilitation work change the total. Get a written scope that lists what is included, so prices from different companies cover the same work.

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