Why does My Water Smell of Sulfur?

Even the healthiest well water may smell of a hint of sulfur, but why does this occur? When sulfur breaks down it releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which may smell similar to rotten eggs. Since it’s uncommon for this scent to be discovered in groundwater, it’s understandable for the smell to come about due to a chemical reaction. Many people around the world utilize well water as a source of drinking water, and the smell of sulfur is no stranger to well water. The good news is, there are water treatment services that can amend this issue, and get your well back to smelling good, again.

Sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide are the main reason for sulfur smell in well water. This type of bacteria thrives in moist environments that lack oxygen levels to support other types of bacteria. A water heater or hot water running from the tap might also smell of sulfur due to similar reasons. In terms of a water heater, terrible sulfur smells occur when the internal aluminum and magnesium rod begin having issues and reactions that produce hydrogen sulfide gas.

Showering in water smelling of sulfur is not in and of itself dangerous, as sulfur is a part of life. Should you choose to shower in water containing sulfur, your health should not be impacted in a negative manner. The biggest downside to this type of water is the emitted odor. Consuming said water would be difficult and rather unpleasant.

In the event where drinking water wreaking of sulfur, you may begin experiencing health issues such as stomach upset, skin allergies, and much more. It’s important to note that these reactions aren’t a direct product of the presence of sulfur, albeit the lack of water consumption overall. When you drink less water than necessary, it begins to put your health out of whack, and lead to more severe consequences. By taking a few precautions, and putting proper filtration into place, you may fix this issue altogether and move forward with your life.

You must begin by first determining the source of your water problem. Once that’s done, you can begin to put a plan into place to reverse the issue, if possible. Other options may include water filtration at the tap, whole house filtration, and more. Before jumping to that conclusion, a few common suggestions include:

It is a good daily practice to start off by turning on all of your household faucets. Allow them to run for anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes in order to flush away any bacteria that has built up overnight. Turn off all of your faucets, and run a test with one faucet. Simply turn it on to see if the smell successfully reduced.

Keeping your water heater clean is an important practice, especially if it is responsible for producing a foul smell. Begin by emptying your water heater after you’ve switched it off. Continue by refilling it, turning it to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and allow it to run for a few hours. Typically, this is enough to kill off any bacteria it’s been harboring.

Bad tasting or foul smelling water can sometimes be due to levels of sulfates and hydrogen sulfide. Having your water tested is the first step to addressing this issue, which should be conducted by a trained professional.

Foul smells from your water source are a big sign that you need to consider filtering and purifying your water. By installing a system, such as an RO machine, the existing impurities and bad odors can be removed or reduced. An RO filter membrane, for example, is capable of removing contaminants as small as 0.0001 microns. This means that smells are effectively removed, including sulfur (a natural occurrence). By utilizing something such as Reverse Osmosis, you won’t experience the production of additional problems, and receive a water source you can count on.

As a natural occurrence, sulfur is capable of penetrating into your water in a variety of ways, at any given time. Some of the issues you have been experiencing may be due to:

Considering the fact that water heaters produce heat, and create a warm environment, it comes as no surprise when bacteria begin to grow and thrive. This often includes sulfate-reducing bacteria, and more. As such, this enables sulfur-like odors (like hydrogen gas) to break down.

Once the bacteria thriving within your water pipes are met with natural sulfates, it’s common for hydrogen sulfide gas to be produced. Essentially, the results are due to something within your water or water pipes rotting. It’s imperative to have this issue quickly reversed, before it begins impacting your health.

This may come as a surprise, but sulfates currently exist within our atmosphere as we speak. These sulfates also thrive within our current water supply around the world. Diluted sulfuric acid is produced when sulfur trioxide combine with water vapor in the air. Sulfur trioxide is formed through the combustion of fossil fuels. When it falls with the rain, it creates an “acid rain”.

It’s important to keep tabs on your water supply, especially when it comes to the health of your family and four-legged friends. Although sulfur riddled drinking water isn’t dangerous in and of itself, it could impose consequences that are easily avoided. By installing a water filtration or water purification unit, such as a Reverse Osmosis system, you can provide yourself, your family, and your household appliances with water that nourishes and enables them to thrive – rather than fail.