Is it safe to drink well water that smells like rotten eggs?

In most cases, the rotten egg smell does not relate to the sanitary quality of the water. In rare instances, the gas may be from sewage or other pollution. To be safe, test your well water for coliform bacteria and nitrate.

Is water that smells like rotten eggs safe to drink?

Potential Problems with Hydrogen Sulfide

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 get the egg smell out of well water?

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.

What does it mean when your well water smells like rotten eggs?

If your water smells like rotten eggs, that likely indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. This could be due to a problem with your water heater or naturally occurring sulfur bacteria, especially in well water. These issues can produce hydrogen sulfide, which leaves an unpleasant scent wherever it goes.

Can smelly well water make you sick?

Many people use quality water softeners and filter systems to eliminate other contaminants, but sulfur can be particularly sticky and problematic for well owners to address. At high levels, it can be bad for your health and may even cause serious illness.

Is It Safe to Drink Water That Smells Like Rotten Eggs?

How much bleach is needed to shock a well?

CALCULATE AND POUR: Pour 3 pints of chlorine bleach per 100 gallons of water plus an additional 3 pints into your well as described above. MIX: Attach a clean garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well.

How do I know if my well water is safe to drink?

The only way to tell if your drinking water is safe is by having it tested at a certified laboratory. Harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses are invisible to the naked eye, so water which looks and tastes good may not necessarily be safe to drink.

What type of filter removes sulfur smell from water?

There are two main filtration methods available for removing hydrogen sulfide from water which includes using different variations of activated carbon and manganese dioxide media to treat the water. Activated carbon is an effective option when the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the water is low, around 1ppm.

Can I shower if my water smells like rotten eggs?

Bad News Bacteria

Sulfate-reducing bacteria, a bunch of nasty guys that, other than their offensive scent, are mostly harmless, are usually the cause of a rotten egg smell in the shower. They live in damp places without air creating hydrogen sulfide gas as a byproduct of their appetite for sulfate minerals.

How do you remove hydrogen sulfide from well water?

Aeration. 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.

Should I put bleach in my well?

You can disinfect your well with household chlorine bleach such as Clorox, Purex or a generic brand. The chlorine in the bleach kills bacteria. Note that it may take more than one chlorination for your well to return a satisfactory test.

Will a water softener help with sulfur?

Ordinary household water softeners do not remove sulfur odors from water. In fact, softeners easily become fouled or clogged, reducing their softening capacity.

Will Shocking well get rid of sulfur smell?

Given time and a route, these bacteria will eventually find a way into the water system and can easily cause odors and off-taste. The most common way to sanitize a well is with shock chlorination. Just use household bleach from any grocery or hardware store.

Can sulfur smell make you sick?

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.

Why does my well water stink?

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.

Does Brita filter remove sulfur?

Does a Brita filter remove sulfur smell? Brita® faucet filters reduce lead, chlorine, asbestos, benzene, particulates and other contaminants. Activated carbon filters at the tap or for the entire house can remove small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, so these are best for water in which the sulfur smell isn't too strong.

What happens if you drink Sulphur water?

If the sulfur level in your drinking water is not too high, it shouldn't lead to any health issues. However, too much sulfate could lead to the following problems: Diarrhea and dehydration: Drinking water with a high sulfate content can have a laxative effect and lead to diarrhea, which can then cause dehydration.

What is the best way to treat well water?

Yes, boiling is the surest way to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the well water. To boil the water so it will be safe, heat it to a full swirling boil. Keep the swirling boil going for at least one minute before you use the water. Store the boiled water in a clean, covered container in the fridge.

What are the disadvantages of well water?

Why can't you drink well water?

Well water may contain microorganisms and chemicals that could make you sick. "Unlike public drinking water systems that serve many people, public health authorities don't check the quality of well water," says Michael Gochfeld, M.D., Ph.

How long should you wait to drink water after you chlorinate a well?

Allow chlorinated water to stand in the well and pipes for at least 8 hours (preferably 12 to 24 hours). Run water from outdoor faucets to waste (away from desirable vegetation) until the chlorine odor is slight or not detected at each faucet. Then run indoor faucets until there is no chlorine odor.

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.

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.