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.
How do you remove sulfur gas from 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 kills h2s?
Oxidation is the most common form of treatment used to eliminate hydrogen sulfide. In this process, a chemical is used to convert the dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas into forms of sulfur that can be easily filtered from the water.
Can you filter sulfur out of water?
Small amounts of sulfur can also be removed from drinking water with a reverse osmosis filter or a granulated activated carbon filter, but neither method is very effective on its own.
How do I fix my smelly well water?
- Aerate water and/or inject air or oxygen.
- Chlorinate well water to eliminate both sulfur and bacteria.
- Use ozone gas in a closed tank or atmospheric tank.
- Inject hydrogen peroxide.
What does hydrogen sulfide do to the body?
At low levels, hydrogen sulfide causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat . Moderate levels can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, as well as coughing and difficulty in breathing. Higher levels can cause shock, convulsions, coma, and death.
How is hydrogen sulfide removed from the air?
Because hydrogen sulfide gas escapes rapidly from water to cause an odor, it may also be removed from the water by aeration . The process includes bubbling air through the water tank, then separating or “stripping” the hydrogen sulfide in the air by venting it to the outdoors.
Can you shower in sulfur water?
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.
What type of filter removes sulfur smell from water?
One type of filter that can remove sulfur from your water is an oxidizing filter . When these filters oxidize the hydrogen sulfide producing the “rotten egg” smell, they convert it to solid sulfur, which then gets removed from your water system.
Can you drink well water with sulfur?
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 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 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.
Is it safe to drink well water that smells like rotten eggs?
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 long does hydrogen sulfide stay in your system?
People are normally exposed to hydrogen sulfide in air by breathing it in or by skin/eye contact. Any absorbed hydrogen sulfide does not accumulate in the body as it is rapidly metabolised in the liver and excreted in the urine. Hydrogen sulfide usually breaks down in air in about 3 days and is dispersed by wind.
Is it bad to breathe in hydrogen sulfide?
The health effects of hydrogen sulfide depend on how much H2S a worker breathes and for how long. However, many effects are seen even at low concentrations. Effects range from mild, headaches or eye irritation, to very serious, unconsciousness and death .
