UV disinfection and well care
UV disinfection for well water in the Treasure Valley
A UV system treats bacteria and viruses in well water with light, with no chemicals added. We install it, change the lamp yearly and handle well shock chlorination when needed.
- Treats
- Bacteria and viruses
- Does not treat
- Minerals or chemicals
- Yearly upkeep
- Lamp and quartz sleeve
How it works
How UV disinfection works
Water flows through a metal chamber with a UV lamp down the middle. The lamp sits inside a clear quartz sleeve, so it stays dry.
As water passes, UV light damages the genetic material of bacteria and viruses. They are inactivated, which means they can no longer multiply.
Nothing is added, so taste and smell stay the same. Water is treated on its way to every tap, as long as the lamp is on.
What UV does and does not do
UV handles living things in the water. Everything else needs a different step, which is why we test first.
| In your water | Does UV treat it? | What handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteria, including coliform and E. coli | Yes | UV system |
| Viruses | Yes | UV system |
| Iron and manganese (orange or black stains) | No | Oxidizing filter |
| Rotten-egg smell (hydrogen sulfide) | No | Oxidizing filter |
| Arsenic and nitrates | No | Reverse osmosis at the drinking tap |
| Hardness (scale and spots) | No | Water softener |
| Sediment and cloudiness | No, and it shields germs from the light | Sediment filter ahead of the UV |
Your water test tells us which of these apply. See well water treatment.
Clear water comes first
UV light has to reach every germ. Sediment can hide bacteria in its shadow, and iron, manganese and hardness can coat the quartz sleeve and block the light.
So a UV system sits last in line, after a sediment filter and, on many wells, a softener or iron filter.
Yearly lamp and sleeve service
A UV lamp keeps glowing long after its useful output fades, and you cannot tell by looking. The quartz sleeve also builds up film that dims the light. So both get attention once a year. We quote the service for your system when you book.
- Replace the UV lamp
- Clean or replace the quartz sleeve and O-rings
- Change the sediment filter ahead of the UV
- Check the power supply, warning light and UV sensor if your unit has one
Well shock chlorination
Well shock chlorination, done for you
Shock chlorination is a deep clean for a private well. A strong chlorine solution runs through the well and the home's plumbing, sits for a while, then gets flushed out.
It is usually called for after a positive bacteria test, after work on the well such as a new pump, or after flooding near the wellhead.
We do it for you. Strength, contact time and flushing all need to be right, and we plan where the flush water goes before we start.
Once the chlorine is gone, the well should be retested. If bacteria keep coming back, we look for the cause, and a UV system may be the long-term answer.
If your home is on a septic system
Large amounts of chlorinated water can kill the helpful bacteria a septic system depends on. Tell us you are on septic when you book, and we will keep flush water away from it.
UV and well questions
Does a UV system change how my water tastes?
No. UV adds nothing, so taste and smell stay the same. A new taste or smell means something else is going on, and a water test will help find it.
What happens if the UV lamp burns out?
Water still flows, but it is no longer being disinfected. Most UV systems have a warning light or alarm. If yours goes off, use bottled water for drinking and call us at (208) 860-4239.
How often should I test my well?
At least once a year for bacteria, and after any work on the well or a change in taste, smell or color. Nitrate and arsenic are worth checking too. Nobody tests a private well unless the owner does. We can set up a certified lab test, and results take about a week.
Find out what is in your well
Start with a certified lab test of your well water. There is a lab fee, and results take about a week. We will go over the report in plain language and tell you whether UV makes sense for your home.