How to Remove a Sulfur Smell From Well Water

Posted by Nabin Shaw on February 21st, 2020

Water's one of the single most important parts of people's lives. In fact, one could argue that it's the most important shared item within life as a whole. Every living being on earth depends on water. As such, it's obviously quite worrying when water quality issues spring up. For example, someone who discovers his well water has an odd smell will be understandably concerned. Thankfully smelly water from a well is often fairly easy to treat.

The first thing to consider is the specifics of smelly well water. One should stop to really consider what the closest match to the smell might be. The most common complaint from well owners is a smell which is somewhat analogous to rotten eggs. This typically suggests a problem with hydrogen sulfide gas. This is also one of the reasons why the smell can be difficult to detect at first. The smell is usually stronger with running hot water than it would be with cold. As such people might assume that it's a problem with, say, the plumbing in their shower. But in fact that would be a false correlation due to the fact that showers tend to consist of running hot water.

A quick and easy fix to the rotten egg smell can be found with chlorine bleach. This can keep the smell away for one or two months. However, this should be best thought of as something of a band aid solution. It's far better to find a method which offers a more complete and long lasting improvement.

A chlorine injector system, or chlorinator, is a better match for that ideal. It directly targets the sulfur bacteria which are the direct cause of the problem. This can be combined with an air charger self cleaning backwash filter as well. This carbon based filter can further reduce chlorine residue to ensure a higher quality of water for one's home. This combination ensures that the method of cleaning water doesn't in turn add anything one wouldn't want to be there.

However, some people might have other reasons for avoiding chlorine even with the backwash filter. In these cases one might want to try a similar system which uses peroxide instead of chlorine. There's also no need for a secondary filtration system due to a lack of residual salt.

One might also consider an air charger carbon filter to fight smelly well water. This method has a distinct advantage in not using any chemicals at all. This makes an air charger carbon filter one of the best options for people who need to avoid exposure to chemicals typically used to purify water. However, it can also be paired with a peroxide injection system. This will extend the overall working life of a catalytic carbon filtration system. But even without peroxide injection the system should last for several years before needing to be changed out.

An air compressor tank aeration system also functions without any need for chemicals. However, the effectiveness is generally reduced compared to other methods. There are specific instances where this will be the best choice though.

And of the options, one also needs to consider ozone gas injection. This is the most expensive option. But it's also among the most effective.

Finally, it's important to consider just when and where the odor shows up. If the odor is present in both hot and cold water than the air charger carbon filter is the best option. preferably in combination with peroxide. If the odor only occurs with cold water than the chlorinator with peroxide is usually the best option. And if the smell only occurs with hot water than a water heater based odor remover is generally the best choice.