How to Treat Wells With a Water & Lime Solution

Over time, mineral buildup in wells can cause hard water. Not only does hard water give you dry skin, it also causes appliances to wear down quicker. Lime was first used to treat hard water in the Thames River in 1841. Adding lime to well water causes a chemical reaction that removes carbonate hardness and helps reduce bacteria. It is still commonly used in the Midwest, Florida and Texas. Adding lime to water also is commonly used by municipalities when watering plants as it reduces the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water supply.

Two large buckets (approximately 1 gallon in size)
Distilled water
Lime (calcium hydroxide)
Wooden or metal rod (long enough to reach into the water in the well)

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the large bucket thoroughly to ensure no bacteria or sediment is left in the bucket.
- 2
  Rinse the large bucket thoroughly to ensure no cleaner is left in the bucket.
- 3
  Fill the large bucket halfway with cold distilled water. Using distilled water will ensure there is no additives in the water that can possibly come from tap water.
- 4
  Mix the lime (calcium hydroxide) with water in a separate bucket according to the mixture instructions on the packaging. Each brand may be different so it is vital to prepare the mixture according to the brands instructions. The most common mixture is approximately 1 tablespoon per gallon of distilled water. Ensure you shake the jar for approximately one to two minutes. Let it stand for approximately 24 hours and separate the sediment from the bottom.
- 5
  Fill another quarter of the bucket with lime/water mixture.
- 6
  Mix the lime and water together thoroughly.
- 7
  Pour the bucket of water and lime mixture into the well.
- 8
  Mix the mixture into the well using the wooden or metal rod.

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