Sudden Sulphur Smell In Well Water

Hydrogen sulfide gas h2s can occur in wells anywhere in minnesota and gives the water a characteristic rotten egg taste or odor.

Sudden sulphur smell in well water.

Here are the best ways to stop the sulfur smell preventing the development of sulphate reducing bacterium. Install a chlorine injector system chlorinator on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running. Often keeps odors away for 1 2 months. This page provides basic information about hydrogen sulfide gas and sulfur bacteria and discusses actions that you can take to minimize their effects.

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. And it is important to identify the source of the stench in order to ensure safe clean drinking water. 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. It s corrosive though and can damage plumbing pipes pumps and other metal parts associated with water.

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. Chemicals in the water can react to the anode resulting is a sulfur smell indoors. Hydrogen sulfide can be challenging to test at it escapes quickly from a liquid. If you have well water or a water softener you re at an increased risk of the anode having a chemical.

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. 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. Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Over 316 contaminants have been detected in water reservoirs across the u s.

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. The rotten egg smell in well water comes from hydrogen sulfide a gas produced by certain bacteria in the groundwater. If the scent appears suddenly take precautions to avoid ingesting or using the water until it can be tested. While it is not necessarily dangerous for your water to smell like sulfur it may signify high levels of pollution or chemicals.

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. Chlorination eliminates the sulfur bacteria that cause the odor and combined with an air charger self. Sulfur is the typical culprit behind the infamous rotten egg smell.