Possible Harmful Bacteria in a Well?

why not have the water tested?

Boiling and filtering it will kill germs and remove bits and pieces, but also have it tested for any chemicals like pesticides and fertilisers and stuff that might have seeped in from nearby fields.
Also ask around the specialist prepper/survivalist forums out there..

Your county health department can test your samples from both and bottom, and can probably answer your other questions. Till then, do treat it as contaminated.

Any time you open and work on a well you can introduce bacteria from your hands and equipment.
I would pour a 1 gal jug of Clorox into the well and let it stand overnight and then pump out the water through the equipment you will be using.
Keep pumping till you don't smell the clorox and then get the water tested within the week.

You have an artesian well in which the static water level is higher than the water entry zone into the borehole.

Im assuming this well is drilled into bedrock and that there is casing socketed into the top of rock by the driller.

The distance from the septic and we'll should be minimum 100 ft because well is only 50ft below ground then well/septic distance needs to be doubled. Go to your town health department website and read rules for well and septic. I know my answer isnt answering your specific question but it does or should raise concerns and thoughts in making your final decision. The shallow depth of well causes could cause health concerns. Ecoli dead animals roof roll off ectl

Hey Nuttyberry, do you HAVE to use the well for water? Can't you get it from somewhere else?
Where do farmers and people who live in the countryside get it from?