How do you get rid of sulfur 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.

Why does my well water suddenly 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. You’ll also find such issues in areas having plumbing systems and organic matter.

Is Sulphur in well water dangerous?

While sulfur is a naturally occurring mineral and water is a powerful dissolvent, the two aren’t necessarily safe when cohabiting in your water source. Sulfur in your water can cause complications such as pipe corrosion and scale in addition to the easily recognizable taste and odor issues.

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.

What happens when you mix sulfur and water?

Sulfur dioxide gas then reacts with the water vapor in the air to produce a weak acid, sulfurous acid (H2SO3) which contributes to the acid rain problem.

Can you filter sulfur out of water?

Sulfur in solid/ insoluble state is easily filtered out using the filtration method. Ozone, chlorine, aeration, and peroxide injections are some common processes that are used to get rid of the sulfur smell by boosting the oxidizing properties of the water being treated.

Can you get sick from sulfur water?

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.

Does a water softener help with sulfur smell?

Ordinary household water softeners do not remove sulfur odors from water. In fact, softeners easily become fouled or clogged, reducing their softening capacity. The exchange material may eventually need replacing.

How fast will hydrogen sulfide kill you?

Death can occur within 1 to 4 hours of exposure. Above 500 Immediate loss of consciousness. Death is rapid, sometimes immediate. H2S levels of 100 ppm and higher are considered immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).

What are the benefits of sulfur water?

Hot springs are a rich source of sulfur and its healing benefits include treating skin irritations and infections such as rashes and eczema. Sulfur-rich hot springs are also thought to help treat dry scalp, arthritic pain and internal problems such as menopausal symptoms and digestive disorders.

What kind of smell does high pH water have?

High-pH water can have a sulfur smell–like rotten eggs. A quick test of pH: wet your fingers and slide them across each other. If they feel sticky or squeaky, that indicates acidic water. If they feel slippery, that is high pH.

Why does my well water smell like sulfur?

Iron bacteria and sulfur bacteria present in groundwater use iron and sulfur as an energy source and chemically change sulfates to produce H2S gas. These bacteria use the sulfur available from decaying plants, rocks, or soil and often thrive in an iron-rich environment.

What’s the pH of water in a well?

But I recently learned that the well water’s pH is 8.5 plus. Any concerns with the high pH? The pH of water can range from acidic to basic on the pH scale of 1 to 14, with the pH of pure water at about 7. A pH less than 7 makes the water more acidic, while a PH greater than 7 makes water more alkaline (basic).

What causes low pH in water in Massachusetts?

Symptoms of low pH are bluish green stains on fixtures with copper plumbing; reddish stains with galvanized iron plumbing; and water system corrosion problems and plumbing leaks. In most locations, well water in Massachusetts is naturally acidic due to the surrounding soils and bedrock.

Which is the best soda ash feeder for acid well water?

However, if the pH is 5.0 or less, a soda ash feeder is preferable because a calcite neutralizer might not raise the pH to the 7.0 on a consistent basis.

Is it safe to drink water with a pH of 8?

Those with water pH between 6.5 and 8.5 can rest more easily. Even if the PH is greater than 8.5, the water is still probably safe, but you may want to acidify the water if you are noticing skin problems.