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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.
Is well water supposed to smell?
A well is a water source for many people, and such smell is a common occurrence in well water. If your well water smells like sulfur, you should opt for water treatment services.
How do you get the smell out of well water?
Use a Chlorinator or Inject Hydrogen Peroxide to Kill Odors J-PRO Odor Killer Well Water Chlorinators Eliminate Both Odors and Odor-Causing Bacteria in your well water. Use 5% grade liquid bleach or 12% liquid pool chlorine OR 7% hydrogen peroxide. The same system can inject either bleach or peroxide.
What does hard water smell like?
Hard water may have a metallic or a dirt taste and cam smell like rotten eggs. The taste can be from the water containing too much iron. The smell can be explained by hydrogen sulfide gas or bacteria reacting with magnesium.
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.
Why has my well water started smelling?
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 did my well water started stinking?
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.
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 fix sulfur 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.
Is it bad to smell sulfur?
Smelling hydrogen sulfide does not mean that it will harm your health. The smell can cause worry, anxiety and resentment. Repeated odour events may culminate in real symptoms such as headache, fatigue and nausea. Although these are not direct health effects they are undesirable.
Is well water hard or soft?
Well water is not inherently hard, but it is more likely to be hard because the water is coming from the ground instead of dedicated reservoirs. Water stored in the ground will take on the attributes of the soil surrounding it, meaning well water may have excess minerals stored in it.
How do I know if I have hard water in my house?
Signs of hard water in your home include: White scaling on faucets. Soap scum on tubs and sinks. Dingy whites from your laundry. Mineral residue left on dishes and glassware.
Can hard water make you sick?
You may be wondering, “Can hard water make you sick?” Hard water isn’t dangerous, and while it does have excess minerals that might make the taste unpleasant, it’s generally safe to drink.
Do water filters remove sulfur?
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.
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.
Does manganese in water smell?
If you smell a “rotten egg” odor, this is hydrogen sulfide gas coming right from your well water. Manganese can make your water smell like oil or asphalt. In case your water smells like cucumber or sewage, it is usually due to iron and/or sulfur bacteria.
How much does it cost to shock 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. You can also perform the task yourself.
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. If these tests turn up positive for bacteria, chlorinating the well may be a way to resolve the problem.
Can I use pool shock in my well?
Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well. Don’t use stabilized swimming pool chlorine products or non-chlorinated “pool shock” products, as they are not effective enough to clean your drinking water.
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.
How long after shocking a well can you drink the water?
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.
