How To Fix Well Water That Smells Bad? Simple Actions to Take.

Rotten-egg smell in your well water?

Fix well water that smells bad:

1. Aerate water and/or inject air or oxygen

2. Chlorinate well water to eliminate both sulfur and bacteria

3. Install a Catalytic Carbon Air Injection Backwash Filter

4. Inject hydrogen peroxide and filter with catalytic carbon.

5. Follow aeration, chlorination, ozone or peroxide injection with activated carbon filtration

Many homeowners contact us to find out how to fix well water that smells bad. Water containing hydrogen sulfide gas (“H2S”), has a distinctive “rotten egg” odor, which may be especially noticeable when running hot water.

Such water can discolor coffee, tea, and other beverages, and affect the taste of water. It can also change the taste of cooked foods. Hydrogen sulfide (“H2S”) gas is a nuisance that is not usually a health risk at concentrations normally found in household water.

In high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can be toxic. Usually, the gas can be detected long before it reaches harmful concentrations. H2S is flammable and poisonous. While such concentrations are not common, if gasses are released in a confined area, they could cause nausea, illness, and in extreme cases, death.

H2S dissolved in water corrodes plumbing metals, such as iron, steel, copper and brass and exposed metal parts in washing machines and other water-using appliances. The corrosion of iron and steel from hydrogen sulfide forms ferrous sulfide or “black water” which darkens silverware and discolors copper and brass utensils.

Sources of Hydrogen Sulfide

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. The harmless non-toxic bacteria normally exist in oxygen-deficient environments, such as deep wells and plumbing systems. The bacteria do not usually cause health problems, but contribute to bad tastes and/or odors at low levels.

Hydrogen sulfide gas may also be present naturally in wells drilled in shale or sandstone, near coal or peat deposits, or in oil fields.

Though H2S is normally found in wells, it can also enter surface water through springs and quickly escape into the atmosphere. Often water heaters can also become a source of foul H2S odors. The magnesium rod used in heaters for corrosion control can chemically reduce sulfates to H2S. Another source of H2S is from sewage pollution.

Often water heaters can also become a source of foul H2S odors. The magnesium rod used in heaters for corrosion control can chemically reduce sulfates to H2S. Another source of H2S is from sewage pollution.

Other odors such as cucumber odor, pond odors or algae type odors, as well as sulfur odors are most often the result of various bacteria in the water.  Sulfur bacteria, iron bacteria and other types of bacteria may be harmless to health but cause a lot of odor problems.  Odors are worse when the water is warmer, or when the water sits in pipes for periods of time.

In order to fix well water that smells bad a one time shock chlorination can also sometimes eliminate the odor for  several weeks or months.

Kill Odor-Causing Bacteria & Remove Odors With Oxidation Followed by Filtration

Odors are best eliminated by first applying an OXIDANT, followed (usually) by FILTER MEDIA.  In some cases, aeration combined with carbon filter media alone can be used if the odor is low to moderate, although no disinfection will take place with aeration alone.

Sulfur odors (hydrogen sulfide gas) are often caused by sulfur-related bacteria, and if the bacteria is present, the odor can redevelop in the household piping, even after filtration.  Using a chlorination or ozone system can kill these bacteria and prevent the odor from coming back later.

Generally, it is best to use a disinfecting oxidant such as chlorine, or ozone, followed by activated carbon to eliminate the odor permanently.  Note that peroxide in water is not considered a strong disinfectant and may not be effective at eliminating these bacteria.

Aeration is a well-established low-cost method of eliminating odors from water, especially for lower levels of odors and when bacteria is not a problem.

There are there main methods for residential applications:

• Air injection by venturi injector
• Air injection by air pump (air compressor) in a closed pressure tank
• Air injection by spraying the well water into an open (non-pressurized) storage tank
• Single tank air-charger type carbon filter

Air Compressor Injection System Diagram:

Single Tank Air Charger Sulfur Filters

Air-charger-type backwash filters use aeration and catalytic carbon to remove odors from water. The Air-Charger maintains an air pocket at the top of the tank while the system is in service.

As the water passes through the air pocket, sulfur odors are oxidized and then filtered out by the catalytic activated carbon.  The Air-Charger 5900-AIR Air Injection Oxidizing Filter, as a single tank system, is an efficient and

The Air-Charger 7500-AIR Air Injection Oxidizing Filter, as a single tank system, is an efficient and cost-effective system for the removal of sulfur odors.

Air-Charger type filters can contain catalytic carbon media OR if iron is present, Pro-OX iron filter media.

If sulfur smell alone is present catalytic carbon can be used.  If iron or manganese is present in the water along with odors, manganese dioxide filter media is recommended.

Chlorine is a Low-Cost Disinfectant that Kills Bacteria and Eliminates Odors

Chlorine can be removed by activated carbon, so no chlorine taste or odors are present in the tap water. See chlorination systems here.

Best Filter Media to Use with Different Oxidant Types

• Aeration:  Use Catalytic Carbon; or Pro-OX Manganese Dioxide
• Hydrogen Peroxide:  Use Catalytic Activated Carbon
• Chlorine Bleach: Use  Standard Activated Carbon, or Greensand or Pro-OX
• Ozone Gas Injection: Use Catalytic Carbon, or Greensand or Pro-OX
• Potassium permanganate:  Use Greensand or Pro-OX media

Trusted Resources on Well Water Quality

To ensure that our readers have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information on well water quality, we've curated a list of authoritative government and educational links. These resources provide in-depth insights and guidelines on maintaining and improving the quality of well water, especially when faced with issues like unpleasant odors. We believe in empowering our readers with knowledge from reputable sources, so you can make informed decisions about your home's water supply.

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Private Drinking Water Wells: This page provides comprehensive information about private drinking water wells, including potential contaminants and how to protect your water source.
   • EPA Private Drinking Water Wells
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Private Wells: This page offers guidance on the maintenance and testing of private wells to ensure safe drinking water.
   • CDC Private Wells
3. National Ground Water Association (NGWA) – Well Owner Resources: The NGWA provides a variety of resources for well owners, including tips on water quality and well maintenance.
   • NGWA Well Owner Resources
4. Cooperative Extension System: Many state-based Cooperative Extension Systems provide resources on well water quality and treatment. For example, the University of Maryland Extension has a guide on “Household Water Quality – Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water”, which could be particularly relevant to your topic.
   • UMD Extension – Hydrogen Sulfide in Well Water