Sudden Sulphur Smell In Well Water

Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors.

Sudden sulphur smell in well water.

The rotten egg smell in well water comes from hydrogen sulfide a gas produced by certain bacteria in the groundwater. If you only experience the smell when using your hot tap it may be a chemical reaction occurring inside your hot water heater and not a problem with your water supply. There are a number of ways sulfur bacteria can enter the well but the most common is the absence of oxygen which creates sulfide gas. Here are the best ways to stop the sulfur smell preventing the development of sulphate reducing bacterium.

Rarely the sulfur smell can result from sewage entering the well. If it doesn t smell like sulphur that classic rotton egg smell then you re in luck it s almost certain that you can fix the problem at your water heater. Thus sending a sample off to a lab can be ineffective. Generally seen living in a low oxygen environment such as water heaters deep wells as well as in the plumbing network this sulfate reducing bacteria take their energy from sulfur.

But if your cold water does smell you should start your web search again because this article only addresses how to fix rotten egg smells in your hot water. If you have well water or a water softener you re at an increased risk of the anode having a chemical. Hydrogen sulfide can be fatal in high doses and it s flammable but because it has such a distinctive odor it s usually detected well before it becomes dangerous. This page provides basic information about hydrogen sulfide gas and sulfur bacteria and discusses actions that you can take to minimize their effects.

And it is important to identify the source of the stench in order to ensure safe clean drinking water. While it is not necessarily dangerous for your water to smell like sulfur it may signify high levels of pollution or chemicals. Hydrogen sulfide can be challenging to test at it escapes quickly from a liquid. It s corrosive though and can damage plumbing pipes pumps and other metal parts associated with water.

Chemicals in the water can react to the anode resulting is a sulfur smell indoors. Sulfur is the typical culprit behind the infamous rotten egg smell. If your water smells like rotten eggs the odor is usually caused by the levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide that can be found in a building s water supply. Chlorination eliminates the sulfur bacteria that cause the odor and combined with an air charger self.

From sulfur to musty and sewage odors here are five common strange well water smells and their causes. Hydrogen sulfide gas h2s can occur in wells anywhere in minnesota and gives the water a characteristic rotten egg taste or odor. Install a chlorine injector system chlorinator on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running.