Hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S) can give water a “rotten egg” taste or odor. This gas can occur in wells anywhere and be: Naturally occurring - a result of decay and chemical reactions with soil and rocks. Produced by certain “sulfur bacteria” in the groundwater, well, or plumbing system.

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 safe to drink well water that smells like rotten eggs?

Potential Problems with Hydrogen Sulfide

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.

Why does my well water smell like sulfur all of a sudden?

Hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs, may occur naturally in well water. Less commonly, it could be due to a direct source of pollution. Most frequently, however, the smell of sulfur in your water is likely due to the existence of sulfate-reducing bacteria, which produces hydrogen sulfide as a byproduct.

How do you fix egg smell in well water?

Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.

Stinky rotten egg, sulfur smelling water cheap and easy fix!

How do you get rid of rotten egg smell in 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.

Do water filters remove sulfur?

Regardless of the source of the odors, installing whole house water filters that will remove hydrogen sulfide and kill sulfur bacteria is a good solution to consider if you want to reduce bad smells, and protect your family from other chemical and microbial contaminants.

How often should you shock your well?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria.

How much bleach is needed to shock a well?

CALCULATE AND POUR: Pour 3 pints of chlorine bleach per 100 gallons of water plus an additional 3 pints into your well as described above. MIX: Attach a clean garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well.

Why does only one faucet smell like rotten eggs?

If it only smells like sulfur when the water's hot, the source is probably a chemical reaction inside your water heater. If it stinks when running cold water, it's most likely due to high levels of sulfur bacterium and hydrogen sulfide gas in the water itself.

Does water softener remove rotten egg smell?

It is better just to use a softener to soften the water and then have a separate system to remove the rotten egg odor, such as an Air Charger Sulfur Filter, or an Aeration Tank. There are standalone aeration carbon tanks that aerate the water and then they backwash and that can work well.

What happens if you put too much bleach in well?

According to AskingLot, if you put too much bleach in your well, it can destroy the good bacteria found in the well, which can be a significant problem! The company also says that you should dilute the bleach with water so the pipes do not get ruined.

How long after bleaching well Can I drink water?

Once the chlorinated water has reached all the appliances, fixtures and faucets, let the chlorinated water stand in the well and plumbing system for 8 hours. WHILE THE CHLORINE IS IN THE SYSTEM DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. CONTACT WITH THE WATER MAY CAUSE SKIN, EYE AND NOSE IRRITATION. 12.

How long after bleaching well can I shower?

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.

Should you put bleach in your well?

Disinfecting Your Water

You can disinfect your well with household chlorine bleach such as Clorox, Purex or a generic brand. The chlorine in the bleach kills bacteria. Note that it may take more than one chlorination for your well to return a satisfactory test.

How much does it cost to have a well Shocked?

How much does it cost to shock a well? If you hire a company to do it, it can cost anywhere around $100 depending on where you live. Doing it yourself will only cost as much as the chlorine, 10 gallon bucket and the safety supplies to do it.

Should I put chlorine tablets in my well?

the well has been flooded or exposed to bacterial contamination in another manner, such as a crack in the well cap. Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well.

What water filter will remove sulfur smell?

The most effective way to treat and prevent sulfur from affecting you and your water is an iron filter. An iron filter can eliminate hydrogen sulfide in water as well as iron and manganese.

How do you get sulfate out of well water?

Ways to Treat Sulfate

1. Reverse osmosis pushes water through a membrane with tiny pores. ...
2. Distillation is a process that boils water, making steam. ...
3. Anion exchange is the most common method of removing large quantities of sulfate from water for commercial, livestock, and public supplies.

Why does my well water stink?

Certain “sulfur bacteria” in the groundwater, in the well water itself, or in the plumbing system can create this gas that smells bad. Chemical reactions inside water heaters can also produce sulfur bacteria. In rare cases, pollution can cause the gas to form. Sulfur bacteria are not harmful.

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.

What is a natural way to clean well water?

You can boil the well water for 5 minutes. With this, all the bacteria inside it will be eliminated. However, boiling will not be able to remove the solids and other materials inside the well water. The use of chlorine drops or iodine tablets can effectively kill the bacteria in the well water.

How do you fix contaminated well water?

You can use regular household bleach to disinfect a well. The chlorine in the bleach will destroy bacteria. Check the label on the bottle to make sure the bleach does not have any kind of additives (ex: scent, detergent).

How much Clorox should I put in my well?

Disinfection Procedure. 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.