OT Sulfer smell in wellwater

any ideas how to get rid of a sulfer smell in my wall water. I have a sediment filter and it gets a lot better with a fresh cartridge, but comes back. No stains in the fixtures, I ran a test and nothing is growing in it, but the smell is pretty annoying.

Try a new anode in your water heater, it can make a big difference.

Basically the only way is to pump it into a holding tank or cistern and let it aerate. Talked to the water experts and that was their suggestion. They said they could install some expensive equipment, filters, and etc., but i wouldn't be happy. Only way was aeration. Some pump from their well into a holding tank such as a 1000 gal plastic tank with float for a shut off and then pump out the bottom with another pump. They say it works good. A softner or filter after that helps also. Currently on Rural Water which is so, so.

I am on the drilling crew, and not the pump & water treatment crew, but if I remember right, the smell will dissipate when the water is not under pressure. An effective way to get rid of the smell is to run the water from the well into a cistern and then have a second pump which furnishes the water for the house from that cistern. There needs to be a vent from that cistern much as there is one on your septic system. I am NOT saying this is the best way.

Do you get the sulphur smell out of a cold water only spickets too? Or do you only get it out of the Hot water side? If you have not checked then do so by checking at faucets that have a seperate valve for each one (i.e. try to avoid using a single handle faucet when checking as they sometimes do not totally seal the other choice off and this could affect your test with cross contamination).

I had this same issue but my odor was coming out of the hot water side only. I removed the anode rod from the water heater and it totally cured my smell issue - no more smell at all now. I do realize that my water heater will not last as long with the anode rod removed, but it has lasted 10 years now and the no water smell smell is definitely worth it to me. The anode rod is a soft metal rod that has lots of magnesium in it ( FYI magnesuim smells like rotten egss when it breaks down chemically or is burnt in a fire or if someone tries to weld it). The purpose of the rod is that acids in the water will attack the anode rod instead of you water heater tank as it is a softer metal thus prolonging water heater tank life in theory.

If you isolate that your smell is indeed limited to the hot water (or significantly stronger smelling in the hot water as compared to the cold water and want to try removing the anode rod: After you turn off you water and drain off the pressure, unscrew the the input side fitting of the cold water supply to the heater (it should have a check valve in it). Then use a hacksaw to cut off the soft rod below the check valve and then re-install the check valve fitting. note: Some soldering may be required depending on how you water heater is plumbed into your lines. Also remembber you will have 30-80 gallons of stinky water stored in the tank to either drain out or simply run a faucet to drain the tank before you see any results.

Sulfur can be aerated out. Any way you can run an air hose down the well? Don't take much.


Dave

Check out the link below.
Rotten egg smell

As the guys said below - aerate in a cistern.
I had methane in my water. I could take a 4 L milk jug, fill with tap water, cap quickly. When the cap was removed you could ignite it with a match.

I"ve even heard of some guys cracking the tap just a hair - enough to let the gas out- and light the faucet - slow blue flame.

Anyway, we are really pleased with the aeration. We made the pipes with holes along the length to increase the spray and air contact.

Good Luck, Grant

I was told by a member of our local health dept that it comes from algea around the screen at the bottom of the well and to pour two gal of bleach down the pipe in the evening. It works fine. She says the plants and grass around the well will cause ground water to seep down the outside of the 6in casing and will cause it after periods of lots of rain. She has many years of service and has been to lots of training services. our well is 160 ft deep. Its worth a try cant hurt anything.

Our well and many others in our area has sulfer in them, we have a green sand filter which removes sulfer, magneseum and iron from the water. Works wounders.

You can solve the problem (at least so far as drinking water is concerned) by putting pitchers of water in the refrigerator. Smell will be gone in a few hours- just keep several pitchers in fridge, rotate them so you use the one that's been in there the longest.

they make aerator tanks, they look like a water softner tank, you just plumb them into the line and it's taken care of as the water comes into the house.

That sounds exactly like my situation. Just bought a house and the hot water is almost unbearably stinky. I'm saving your info. Thanks!

Better to get chlorine tablets; I used to use bleach and it about rusted away my well casing.

Thats why we have PVC. Our driller only has 45 yrs experience.

The well driller we used is no longer around but our well is about 23 years old.