Why does my well water smell like sulfur

What Causes the Sulphur Smell in Well Water? The main reason for the smell is sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur bacteria are found in environments that lack oxygen, like deep wells. … In all these cases, you’ll see hydrogen sulfide gas production that causes the sulfur smell.

Is it safe to drink well water that smells like sulfur?

In most cases drinking water that has a strong rotten egg odor, although particularly unpleasant, is perfectly safe to drink. However in some rare occasions the odor may be caused by sewage or other contaminates in a building’s water supply, which could cause health problems.

How do you treat smelly well water?

1. Aerate water and/or inject air or oxygen.
2. Chlorinate well water to eliminate both sulfur and bacteria.
3. Use ozone gas in a closed tank or atmospheric tank.
4. Inject hydrogen peroxide.

How do you get rid of Sulphur smell in well water?

Chlorine bleach can effectively remove medium to high levels (over 6 mg/l) of hydrogen sulfide. The chlorine in the bleach chemically reacts with (oxi- dizes) the hydrogen sulfide eliminating the “rotten egg” odor. Chlorine bleach also reacts with iron or manganese, and disinfects water supplies.

Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?

If your water smells like rotten eggs, that likely indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. This could be due to a problem with your water heater or naturally occurring sulfur bacteria, especially in well water. These issues can produce hydrogen sulfide, which leaves an unpleasant scent wherever it goes.

How do you remove hydrogen sulfide from well water?

Aeration. Since hydrogen sulfide occurs as a gas in water, it can be physically removed by injecting air into the water and allowing the gas to escape. Aeration units may work by cascading, bubbling, or stripping the gas from the water.

Is it OK to shower in water that smells like sulfur?

A rotten egg odor is a sign that the sulfur levels in your water may be too high. … It’s understandable if you don’t want to drink or bathe in foul-smelling water, nor should you have to. Good, clean water is free of taste or odors and doesn’t pose any risks to your health.

How often should you chlorinate your well?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria. If these tests turn up positive for bacteria, chlorinating the well may be a way to resolve the problem.

Can I pour bleach down my well?

Mix 2 quarts bleach in 10 gallons of water; pour into well. Connect a garden hose to a nearby faucet and wash down the inside of the well. Open each faucet and let the water run until a strong chlorine odor is detected, then turn it off and go to the next one. … Pour it into the well without pumping.

How do you get rotten egg smell out of your house?

Mix 3% peroxide with 40 gallons of water and then pour the solution into the water heater. Left it for a few hours, and then flush it. The process of chlorinating the water heater and all hot water lines with bleach will also help eliminate the rotten egg smell by getting rid of bacteria buildup in the water heater.

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How much hydrogen peroxide should I put in my well?

Now, to proceed with the treatment, make sure you have four to seven gallons of a solution containing 35% hydrogen peroxide, a pair of gloves, and a face mask. Don’t forget that this substance is a very strong oxidant, which means that in can cause burns and blindness if handled incorrectly.

Why does sulfur smell like rotten eggs?

Eggs are very high in two proteins, globulin and keratin. When globulin begins to decay, a toxic chemical is released that’s called hydrogen sulfide, which has that very potent sulfur smell. … Both of these proteins release that sulfurous smell, resulting in an odor that immediately tells you that this egg has gone bad.

Can anode rod causing rotten egg smell?

The most common cause of smelly water is anaerobic bacteria that exist in some water and react with the magnesium and aluminum sacrificial anodes that come with most water heaters to produce hydrogen sulfide gas, making the classic rotten egg odor.

Why does my well water stink all of a sudden?

It happens because sulfur has broken down and released hydrogen sulfide gas. … Sometimes people say that the water is smelling like rotten eggs. In most cases, rotten eggs are not found in groundwater, so the smell comes from the reactions.

How much bleach should I put in my well?

4) Work out how much bleach will be needed: For every 50 gallons of water in the well use one quart of laundry bleach – (4 quarts in a gallon). Do not use excessive amounts of bleach – more is not more effective. 5) For best results the bleach should be combined with water before adding it to the well.

How do you remove sulfates from well water?

Ways to Treat Sulfate Reverse osmosis pushes water through a membrane with tiny pores. The membrane stops many contaminants, including sulfate, while allowing water to pass through. Reverse osmosis usually removes between 93 and 99 percent of the sulfate in drinking water, depending on the type of treatment unit.

How do I shock my well water?

Overview. Use ordinary liquid laundry bleach to shock chlorinate the water system. Determine how much bleach to use, then pour the bleach down the well and circulate it through the whole water distribution system. Wait 6-12 hours for the chlorine to work, then flush the chlorinated water from your well and pipes.

How do you neutralize hydrogen sulfide?

When dealing with a hydrogen sulfide gas leak, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends using water to spray down the gas, then adding sodium bicarbonate to neutralize it.

How much does it cost to disinfect a well?

To disinfect your well and eliminate the bacteria, you should chlorinate the well. You can hire a company that services wells to do the chlorinating. The cost ranges from $80 – $200.

Why does my well water turn brown when I add bleach?

The brown is the iron in the water that has oxidized as a result of the chlorination. Normally, the iron in water is in ion form and does not display itself until it combines with oxygen and forms common rust which turns the water reddish-brown.

Can you put chlorine tablets in a well?

Pool chlorine tablets can be used in wells. Ground wells require maintenance just as other household components and one of the most important tasks is disinfecting it. Disinfecting a ground well involves adding chlorine which kills bacteria and microscopic organisms living in the water.

How long should you wait to drink water after you chlorinate a well?

Step 6 WAIT at least 12 hours before turning faucets back on. Do not drink, cook, bathe, or wash with water from your faucets during this time because it has high amounts of chlorine in it.

How long does it take to get chlorine out of well water?

Monitor the process, it can take 30 minutes to 24 hours or more to flush all of the bleach solution from the well. Use chlorine test papers to verify that the water coming from the outside faucet or yard hydrant is clear of any bleach solution. Flush the chlorinated water from water heaters.

Why does my house smell like sulfur when it rains?

Raining often causes atmospheric pressure changes, which can lead to the air becoming heavy. As such, the methane gases typically found in the septic tank don’t flow through the vent as they normally would. Instead, they stay low to the ground, causing a foul smell similar to rotten eggs.

Why does my basement smell like rotten eggs?

Sewer gas. That “rotten egg” smell in the basement is sewer gas, or hydrogen sulfide. … A gas odor can be a sign of a small problem, like a dried out water seal in a floor drain. On a bigger scale, it can also indicate a broken sewer line or vent stack.

Why does my hot water heater water smell like rotten eggs?

The most common odor problem from water heaters is a rotten egg smell that comes out of your faucets and fixtures when running water. This smell is typically caused by sulfate bacteria that can develop within the tank. … The soft water breaks down the magnesium and creates sulfate gas within the water heater.

Can I pour peroxide in my well?

Batch treatment of the well with hydrogen peroxide not only rids the well of the odors from the sulfides and bacteria causing it (including slime mass), it also leaves behind a residue of excess oxygen than helps prevent future anaerobic conditions.

Can I put peroxide in my well?

Hydrogen peroxide holds an advantage over chlorine as a well water disinfectant due to its chemical makeup. It disinfects through oxidation, splitting into oxygen and water. In the case of well water treatment, there is often bacteria that cannot be eliminated by chlorine.

What does hydrogen peroxide do to well water?

Peroxide is especially good for treating well water, which is prone to sulfur content. It attacks iron, many types of bacteria, tannins, and bad odors without leaving a trace. So, while it can be dangerous in its base form, it’s the safest alternative for purification.

How do I get the sulfur smell out of my hot water heater?

One solution is to have a plumber perform a shock chlorination treatment. Adding chlorine to the water will kill the SRB and thereby reduce the rotten egg odor in your water heater.

Why does my well water smell Swampy?

There are two types of bacteria that cause odors: sulfur- oxidizing and sulfur- reducing. … Some sulfur bacteria form deposits that can clog a well screen and pump piping. Sulfur bacteria samples are difficult to collect and take a long time to analyze. You may wish to have your water tested for iron bacteria instead.