Should I be worried about mosquitos breeding in our wells?

[Anonymous]

I live with my mom. She has two wells, an old one that was here when we moved in in 1999, and s newer one that was installed in 2010. They both have several pieces of plywood for a lid. I looked inside the wells, and the water is greenish. I'm afraid that mosquitos are breeding in the water. I wasn't too worried at first, because i read that mosquitos typically just breed in sitting/stagnant water and well water is always being used and replenished, but maybe that's not the case.

[OfMiceandMen]

If you have just plywood on the well, I am guessing it is like a dug or bored well. Typically, large diameter and constructed of concrete tile (30 to 36 inch diameter). If that is the case, you need to chlorinate the well once a year. Call the local health unit or a well driller and get directions. You do' need an entire jug of bleach, like a cup or half cup depending on the reservoir.

Don't drink it with the chlorine and don't wash with the water as the bleach will release all kind of thing. You leave it overnight and flush it out the next day.

Next thing you need to do is find something to better cover/seal the well than plywood. You can ask a local well driller if they have something or get something made to better cover the wellhead. Plywood attracts all kinds of bugs and even snakes that'll use the plywood for cover. The animals can fall into a well that is not well covered and taint the drinking water. I've seen racoons in dug wells before and owners say, that's what made the water quality change...

In the long term it may be beneficial to have a well drilled - has a 6 inch casing and vermin-proof cap to keep the critters out.

Hope that helps.

[sage2021]

I think there are deadly bacteria in well water unless it's been totally cleaned and sterilized.

My son drank water from my sister's well in his bottle when he was only 3 months.
There is bacteria called Giardia Lamblia. Very very bad if it contacts you. My son had heavy diarrhea and vomiting for two years. His doctor didn't know what was wrong with him. So he had him taken to a University hospital. After a lot of test over about 4 days they found the culprit. It took 3 pills three times a day and it was cleared up.

[MORPHEUS_12]

Not 100% true. There are some that like to breed in nutrient rich water such as algae filled water.

[Anonymous]

Yes, as well as the color of the water.