Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Often keeps odors away for 1 – 2 months. 2. Chlorinator: Install a chlorine injector system (chlorinator) on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running.
How do you get rotten egg smell out of 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.
What causes odor in well water?
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.
Why does my well water smell like sewage?
If your cold well water smells like sewage, it can be the result of several causes: Hydrogen sulfide from iron, sulfur or other types of bacteria naturally occurring in your well water . Contaminated pipes with layers of bio-film caused by various types of iron, sulfur, or other types of bacteria.
Is smelly well water safe to drink?
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 remove hydrogen sulfide from well water?
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. Aeration may be advantageous because it does not add chemicals to the water.
Is it safe 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.
Can you put bleach in your 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.
Can sulfur smelling water make you sick?
At high concentrations, sulfur water can cause diarrhea and illness . In most US households, though, drinking sulfur water is safe because the concentration of sulfates and hydrogen sulfide is low.
Can you drink well water?
Well water can be safe for drinking and all other household needs , as long as you make sure to test your water supply regularly and select treatment solutions in line with your results. Learn more about the well water treatment options that are available for your specific needs.
How does the body get rid of hydrogen sulfide?
When you breathe air containing hydrogen sulfide or when hydrogen sulfide comes into contact with skin, it is absorbed into the blood stream and distributed throughout the body. In the body, hydrogen sulfide is primarily converted to sulfate and is excreted in the urine .
Will a water filter remove sulfur smell?
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. Take Back Your Water and Just Breathe!
What causes a sulfur smell in the water?
Hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs, may occur naturally in well water. ... 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.
Can sulfur smell make you sick?
You can smell hydrogen sulfide gas at lower levels than may cause health effects, so smelling the gas does not always mean that it will make you sick. However, at higher levels, your nose can become overwhelmed by the gas and you cannot smell it .
Does Iceland smell like a fart?
The water in Iceland is heated by harnessing the volcanic landscapes geothermal energy, which then then runs straight to your tap. So whilst it is super fresh, it is also super sulphuric, making it smell like you’re changing the diaper of a baby grown on a diet of Indian food and asparagus.
How long should you wait to drink water after you chlorinate a well?
Wait one to two weeks after shock chlorinating the water supply system to retest for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. Follow sample collection instructions carefully. If the test results show the absence of coliform bacteria, the water is safe to drink.
